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A 

CONFESSION    OF    FAITH, 

PUT    FORTH 

BY  THE  ELDERS  AND  BRETHREN 

Of 

MANY  CONGREGATIONS  OF  CHRISTIANS, 

(baptised  ttpon  profession  of  their  faith,) 

IN  LONDON  AND  THE  COUNTRY. 


ADOPTED  BY 


THE  BAPTIST  ASSOCIATION, 

Met  at  Philadelphia,  September  25,  1742. 
With  two  additional  articles,  viz. 

OF  IMPOSITION  OF  HANDS,   AND  SINGING  OF 
PSALMS  IN  PUBLIC  WORSHIP. 

ssss 

With  the  heart  man  believeth  unto  righteousness,  and  with 
the  mouth  confession  is  made  unto  salvation.  Rom.  x.  20, 

Search  the  Scriptures.    John  v.  39, 


PHILADELPHIA : 

rHISTlD  AITS  PUBLISHED  BT  ANDERSON  AND  MEEHAN, 
WO.  59,  EOCUST-STREET, 

1818. 


WE,  the  Ministers  and  Messengers  of,  and  concerned 
for,  upwards  of  one  hundred  baptised  congregations  in 
England  and  Wales  (denying  Arminianism)  being  met  to- 
gether in  London,  from  the  third  of  the  seventh  month  to 
the  eleventh  of  the  same,  1689,  to  consider  of  some  things 
that  might  be  for  the  glory  of  Gou,  and  the  good  of  these 
congregations  ;  have  thought  meet  (for  the  satisfaction  of 
all  other  Christians  that  differ  from  us  in  the  point  of  bap- 
tism) to  recommend  to  their  perusal  the  Confession  of 
our  Faith,  printed  for  and  sold  by  John  Marshall,  at  the 
Bible  in  Grace-church-street,  which  Confession  we  own,  as 
containing  the  doctrine  of  our  faith  and  practice ;  and  do 
desire  that  the  members  of  our  churches  respectively  do 
furnish  themselves  therewith. 


Hanserd  Knotty*, 
William  Kiffin, 
John  Harris, 
William  Collins, 
Hercules  Collins, 
Robert  Steed, 
Leonard  Harrison, 
George  Barret, 
Isaac  Lamb, 
Richard  Adams, 
Benjamin  Keach, 
Andrew  Gifford, 
Thomas  Vaux, 
Thomas  Winnel, 
James  Hitt, 
Richard  Tidmarsh, 
William  Facer/, 
Samuel  Buttal, 
Christopher  Price, 


Daniel  Finch, 
John  Ball, 
Edmojid  White, 
William  Prichard, 
Paid  Fruin, 
Richard  Ring% 
John  Tomkins, 
Toby  Willes, 
John  Carter, 
James  Webb, 
Richard  Sutton, 
Robert  Knight, 
Edward  Price, 
William  Phipps, 
William  Hankins, 
Samuel  Ewer, 
Edward  Man, 
Charles  Archer. 


In  the  name  and  behalf  of  the  whole  assembly. 


CONTENTS. 


chaptf.k  Page 

1.  Of  the  Holy  Scriptures              -            -            -  13 

2.  Of  God  and  of  the  Holy  Trinity             -            -  17 

3.  Of  God's  Decree  20 

4.  Of  Creation        -----  22 

5.  Of  Divine  Providence     -            -            -            -  23 

6.  Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of  Sin,  and  of  the  Punishment 

thereof            -----  25 

7.  Of  God's  Covenant  27 

8.  Of  Christ  the  Mediator              -  28 

9.  Of  Free-WiU      -----  32 

10.  Of  Effectual  Calling  33 

11.  Of  Justification              -            -            -  35 

12.  Of  Adoption 37 

13.  Of  Sanctification  38 

14.  Of  Saving  Faith  39 

15.  Of  Repentance  unto  Life  and  Salvation              -  40 

16.  Of  Good  Works  42 

17.  Of  the  Perseverance  of  the  Saints        -            -  44 

18.  Of  the  Assurance  of  Grace  and  Salvation           -  46 

19.  Of  the  Law  of  God  48 

20.  Of  the  Gospel,  and  of  the  Extent  of  the  Grace 

thereof           -            -            -            -             -  51 

21.  Of  Christian  Liberty,  and  Liberty  of  Conscience      52 

22.  Of  Religious  Worship,  and  the  Sabbath  Day    -  54 

23.  Of  Singing  of  Psalms  in  Public  Worship           -  57 

24.  Of  Lawful  Oaths  and  Vows  58 

25.  Of  the  Civil  Magistrate  59 

26.  Of  Marriage       -----  60 

27.  Of  the  Church 61 

28.  Of  the  Communion  of  Saints      -            -  66 

29.  Of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper       -            -  67 

30.  Of  Baptism  68 

31.  Of  Laying  on  of  Hands                -            -            -  69 

32.  Of  the  Lord's  Supper    -            -            -            -  70 

33.  Of  the  State  of  Man  after  Death,  and  of  the 

Resurrection  of  the  Dead     -            -            -  72 

34.  Of  the  Last  Judgment   -  -  -  -73 


JUDICIOUS  AND  IMPARTIAL  READER. 


\ 


Courteous  Reader, 

IT  is  now  many  years  since  divers  of  us  (with 
other  sober  Christians  then  living,  _md  walking  in 
the  way  of  the  Lord,  that  we  profess)  did  conceive 
ourselves  to  be  under  a  necessity  of  publishing  a 
Confession  of  our  Faith,  for  the  information  and 
satisfaction  of  those  that  did  not  thoroughly  under- 
stand what  our  principles  were,  or  had  entertained 
prejudices  against  our  profession,  by  reason  cf  the 
strange  representation  of  them,  by  some  men  of 
note  who  had  taken  very  wrong  measures,  and  ac- 
cordingly led  others  into  misapprehensions  ot  us, 
and  them  :  And  this  was  first  put  \>rti<  ao«ut  the 
year  1643,  in  the  name  of  seven  cougrer;auons  then 
gathered  in  London  ;  since  which  time,  divers  im- 
pressions thereof  have  been  dispersed  abroad,  and 
our  end  proposed,  in  good  measure  answered,  in- 
asmuch as  many  (and  some  of  those  men  eminent 
both  for  piety  and  learning)  were  thereby  satisfied, 
that  we  were  no  way  guilty  of  those  heterodoxies, 
and  fundamental  errours,  which  had  too  frequent- 
ly been  charged  upon  us  without  ground,  or  occa- 
sion given  on  our  part.  And  forasmuch,  as  that 
A    2 


vi  To  the  Reader. 

Confession  is  not  now  commonly  to  be  had,  and 
also  that  many  others  have  since  embraced  the 
same  truth  which  is  owned  therein,  it  was  judged 
necessary  by  us  to  join  together  in  giving  a  testi- 
mony to  the  world,  of  our  firm  adhering  to  those 
wholesome  principles,  by  the  publication  of  this 
which  is  now  in  your  hand. 

And  forasmuch  as  our  method  and  manner  of 
expressing  our  sentiments,  in  this,  doth  vary  from 
the  former  (although  the  substance  of  this  matter  is 
the  same)  we  shall  freely  impart  to  you  the  rea- 
son and  occasion  thereof.  One  thing  that  greatly 
prevailed  with  us  to  undertake  this  work  was  (not 
only  to  give  a  full  account  of  ourselves  to  those 
Christians  that  differ  from  us  about  the  subject  of 
baptism,  but  also)  the  profit  that  might  from  thence 
arise,  unto  those  that  have  any  account  of  our  la- 
bours, in  their  instruction  and  establishment  in  the 
great  truths  of  the  gospel;  in  the  clear  under- 
standing, and  steady  belief  of  which  our  comforta- 
ble walking  with  God,  and  fruitfulness  before  him, 
in  all  our  ways,  is  most  nearly  concerned;  and 
therefore  we  did  conclude  it  necessary  to  express 
ourselves  the  more  fully  and  distinctly  ;  and  also 
to  fix  on  such  a  method  as  might  be  most  compre- 
hensive of  those  things  we  designed  to  explain 
our  sense  and  belief  of;  and  finding  no  defect  in 
this  regard,  in  that  fixed  on  by  the  Assembly,  and 
after  them,  by  those  of  the  Congregational  way,  we 


To  the  Reader.  vii 

did  readily  conclude  it  best  to  retain  the  same  or* 
der  in  our  present  confession ;  and  also  when  we 
observed,  that  those  last  mentioned,  did  in  their 
confessions  (for  reasons  which  seemed  of  weight 
both  to  themselves  and  others)  choose  not  only  to 
express  their  mind  in  words  concurrent  with  the 
former  in  sense,  concerning  all  those  articles 
wherein  they  were  agreed,  but  also  for  the  most 
part,  without  any  variation  of  the  terms,  we  did  in 
like  manner  conclude  it  best  to  follow  their  exam- 
ple, in  making  use  of  the  very  same  words  with 
them  both,  in  these  articles  (which  are  very  many) 
wherein  our  faith  and  doctrine  is  the  same  with 
theirs;  and  this  we  did,  the  more  abundantly,  to 
manifest  our  consent  with  both,  in  all  the  funda- 
mental articles  of  the  Christian  religion,  as  also 
with  many  others,  whose  orthodox  confessions  have 
been  published  to  the  world,  on  the  behalf  of  the 
Protestants  in  divers  nations  and  cities  :  And  also 
to  convince  all,  that  we  have  no  itch  to  clog  reli- 
gion with  new  words,  but  do  readily  acquiesce  ia 
that  form  of  sound  words,  which  hath  been  in  con- 
sent with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  used  by  others  be- 
fore us ;  hereby  declaring,  before  God,  angels, 
and  men,  our  hearty  agreement  with  them,  In  that 
wholesome  Protestant  doctrine,  which  with  so 
clear  evidence  of  Scriptores  they  have  asserted  : 
Some  things  indeed,  are  in  some  places  added, 
some  terms  omitted,  and  some  few  changed  ;  but 


viii  To  the  Reader. 

these  alterations  are  of  that  nature}  as  that  we  need 
not  doubt,  any  charge  or  suspicion  of  unsoundness 
in  the  faith,  from  any  of  our  brethren  upon  the  ac- 
count oi  them. 

In  those,  things  wherein  we  differ  from  others, 
we  have  expressed  ourselves  with  all  candour  and 
plainness,  that  none  might  entertain  jealousy  of 
aught  secretly  lodged  in  our  breasts,  that  we  would 
not  the  world  shouid  be  acquainted  with ;  yet  we 
hope  we  have  also  observed  those  rules  of  modesty 
and  humility,  as  will  render  our  freedom  in  this  re- 
spect inoffensive,  even  to  those  whose  sentiments 
are  different  from  ours. 

We  have  also  taken  care  to  affix  texts  of  Scrip- 
ture at  the  bottom,  for  the  confirmation  of  each  ar- 
ticle in  our  Confession  ;  in  which  work  we  have 
Studiously  endeavoured  to  select  such  as  are  most 
clear  and  pertinent,  for  the  proof  of  what  is  assert- 
ed by  us:  And  our  earnest  desire  U,  that  all  into 
whose  hands  this  may  come,  would  follow  that 
(never  enough  commended)  example  of  the  noble 
Bereans,  who  searched  the  Scriptures  daily  that 
they  might  find  out  whether  the  things  preached 
to  them  were  so  or  not. 

There  is  one  thing  more  which  we  sincerely 
profess  and  earnestly  desire  credence  in,  viz.  That 
cont*  mion  is  most  remote  from  our  design  in  all 
that  we  have  done  in  this  matter:  And  we  hope, 
the  liberty  of  an  ingenuous  unfolding  our  principles 


To  the  Reader,  ix 

and  opening  our  hearts  unto  our  brethren,  with  the 
scripture  grounds  on  which  our  faith  and  practice 
will  by  none  of  them  be  either  denied  to  uss  or  taken 
ill  from  us.  Our  whole  design  is  accomplice;!  if 
we  may  obtain  that  justice,  as  to  be  mea  »are< 
our  principles  and  practice,  and  the  judgra  Jnt  of 
both  by  others,  according  to  what  we  a«  s 
published;  which  the  Lord  (whose  ey<s  are  «.,•  a. 
Jiame  qfjire)  knoweth  to  be  the  doctrine  y  which 
with  our  hearts  we  most  firmly  believe,  and  sincere- 
ly endeavour  to  conform  our  lives  to  A.nd,  oh,  that 
other  contentions  being  laid  asleep,  the  only  care 
and  contention  of  all,  upon  whom  the  name  of  our 
blessed  Redeemer  is  called,  might  for  the  future 
be,  to  walk  humbly  with  their  God,  in  the  exercise 
of  all  love  and  meekness  towards  each  other  to  per- 
fect holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  each  one  en- 
deavouring to  have  his  conversation  such  as  be- 
cometh  the  Gospel ;  and  also  suitable  to  his  place 
and  capacity,  vigorously  to  promote  in  others  the 
practice  of  true  religion,  and  undefiled  in  the  sight 
of  God  our  Father  1  And  that  in  this  backsliding 
day,  we  might  not  spend  our  breath  in  fruitless 
complaints  of  the  evils  of  others,  but  may  every 
one  begin  at  home,  to  reform  in  the  first  place  our 
own  hearts  and  ways,  and  then  to  quicken  all,  that 
we  may  have  influence  upon,  to  the  same  work  ; 
that  if  the  will  of  God  were  so,  none  might  deceive 
themselves  by  resting  in,  and  trusting  to  a  form  of 


x  To  the  Reader, 

godliness,  without  the  power  of  it,  and  inward  ex- 
perience of  the  efficacy  of  those  truths  that  are 
professed  by  them. 

And  verily  there  is  one  spring  and  cause  of  the 
decay  of  religion  in  our  day,  which  we  cannot  but 
touch  upo  i,  jd  earnestly  urge  a  redress  of,  and 
that  is  the  neglect  of  the  worship  of  God  in  fami- 
lies, by  those  to  whom  the  charge  and  conduct  of 
them  is  committed.  May  not  the  gross  ignorance 
anci  instability  of  many,  with  the  profaneness  of 
others,  be  justly  charged  upon  their  parents  and 
masrers,  who  have  not  trained  them  up  in  the  way 
wherein  they  ought  to  walk  when  they  were  young; 
bu>  have  '^gjected  those  frequent  and  solemn  com- 
mands which  the  Lord  hath  laid  upon  them,  so  to 
catechise  and  instruct  them,  that  their  tender  years 
might  be  seasoned  with  the  knowledge  of  the  truth 
of  God,  as  revealed  in  the  scriptures  ;  and  also  by 
their  own  omission  of  prayer,  and  other  duties  of 
religion  of  their  families,  together  with  the  ill  ex- 
ampieof  their  loose  conversation,  have  inured  them 
first  to  a  neglect,  and  then  contempt,  of  all  piety 
and  religion  ?  We  know  this  will  not  excuse  the 
blindness  and  wickedness  of  any  ;  but  certainly  it 
will  fall  heavy  upon  those  that  have  been  thus  the 
occasion  thereof;  they  indeed  die  in  their  sins,  but 
will  not  their  blood  be  require  d  of  those  under 
whose  care  they  were,  who  yet  permitted  them  to 
go  on  without  warnings  yea,  led  them  into  the  paths 
of  destruction  ?  And  will  not  the  diligence  of  Chris- 


To  the  Reader.  xi 

tians,  with  respect  to  the  discharge  of  these  duties, 
in  ages  past,  rise  up  in  judgment  against.  a*ui  con- 
demn many  of  those  who  would  be  esteemed  such 
nw  ? 

We  shall  conclude  with  our  earnest  prayer, 
That  the  God  of  all  grace,  will  fiour  out  those 
measures  oj  his  Fitly  Spirit  ufionus,  that  the  pro- 
fession of  truth  may  be  accompanied  with  the 
sound  belief  and  diligent  practice  of  it,  by  us, 
that  his  name  may  in  all  things  be  glorified 
through  Jesue  Christ  our  Lord,  Amen, 


\ 


CONFESSION  OF  FAITH. 

CHAPTER  I. 

OF    THE    HOLY    SCRIPTURES. 

2.  The  Holy  Scripture  is  the  only  sufficient, 
certain,  &nd  infallible  a  rule  of  all  saving  know- 
ledge, faith,  and  obedience  ;  although  the  b  light 
of  nature,  and  the  works  of  creation  and  provi- 
dence *do  so  far  manifest  the  goodness,  wisdom,  and 
power  of  God,  as  to  leave  men  unexcusable  ;  yet 
are  they  not  sufficient  to  give  that  knowledge  of 
God  and  his  will,  which  is  necessary  unto  salva- 
tion. c  Therefore  it  pleased  the  Lord  at  stand ry 
times,  and  in  divers  manners,  to  reveal  himself, 
and  to  declare  that  his  will  un^o  his  church  ;  and 
afterward  for  the  better  preserving  and  propa- 
gating of  the  truth,  and  for  the  more  sure  estab- 
lishment, and  comfort  of  the  church  against  the 
corruption  of  'he  flesh,  and  the  malice  of  Satan, 
and  of  the  world,  to  commit  the  same  wholly  unto 
d  writing  ;  which  maketh  the  holy  scriptures  to  be 
most  necessary,  those  former  ways  of  God's  re- 
vealing his  will  unto  his  people  being  now  ceased. 

a  2  Timothy  iii.  15,  16,  17.  Isaiah  viii.  20.  Lukexvi.29, 
31.  Ephesians  ii.  20.  b  Tlomans  i.  19,  20,21.  ii  14,  15. 
Psalm  xix.  1,2.  3.  c  Hebrews  i.  1.  d  Proverbs  xxii. 
19,  20,  in,  Romans  xv.  4.  2  Peter  i.  19,  20. 

B 


U  Of  the  Holy  Scri/itures. 

2.  Under  the  name  of  holy  Scripture,  or  the  word 
pf  God  written,  are  now  contained  all  the  books  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testament,  which  are  these : 

Of  the    Old   Testament. 

Genesis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deuter- 
.>n- my,  Joshua.  Judges,  Ruth,  l  Samuel,  2  Samu- 
el 1  Kings,  2  Kings,  1  Chronicles,  2  Chronicles, 
Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Father,  Job,  Psalms,  Proverbs, 
Ecelesiastes,  The  Song  of  Son^s,  Isaiah,  Jeremiah, 
Lamentations,  Ezekiel,  Daniel.  Hosea.  Joel,  Amos, 
CKadiah,  Jonah,  Micah,  Nahum,  Habakkuk,  Zeph- 
auiah,  Haggai,  Zachariah,  Malachi. 

Of  the  New   Testament. 

Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  John,  The  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  1  Corin- 
thians, 2  Corinthians,  Galatians,  Ephesians,  Phi- 
lippjans,  Colossians,  1  ;  hessalonians,  2  Thessalo- 
nians,  1  Timothy,  2  Timothy,  to  Titus,  to  Phile- 
mon, the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  the  Epistle  of 
J  nes,  the  first  and  second  Epistles  of  Peter,  the 
first,  second  and  third  Epistles  of  John,  the  Epistle 
of  Jude,  the  Revelation.  All  which  are  given  by 
the  e  inspiration  of  God,  to  be  the  rule  of  faith  and 
life. 

3.  The  books  commonly  called  Apocrypha,  not 
being  of  f  divine  inspiration  are  no  part  of  the  canon 
(or  rule)  of  the  scripture,  and  therefore  are  of  no 
authority  to  the  church  of  God,  nor  to  be  any  other- 
wise approved,  or  made  use  of  than  other  human 
wriiings. 

c  2  Timothy  iii.  16.       /  Luke  xxiv.  27, 44.  Romans  iii.  2V 


®/  the  Holy   Scrifitures.  3  5 

4.  The  authority  ©f  the  holy  Scripture,  for  which 
it  ought  to  be  believed,  dependeth  not  upon  the 
testimony  of  any  man,  or  church,  but  wholly  upon 
s  God,  (who  is  Truth  itself)  the  author  thereof; 
therefore  it  is  to  be  received,  because  it  is  the  word 
of  God. 

5.  We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testi- 
mony of  che  church  ot  Goo",  to  an  high  and  rever- 
ent esteem  of  ihe  holy  scriptures;  and  the  heaveri- 
liness  of  the  maUer,  the  efficacy  of  the  doctrine, 
and  the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  concent  of  all  the 
parts,  the  scope  ot  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give  all 
glory  to  God)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of  the 
only  way  of  man's  salvation,  and  many  other  incom* 
parable  excellencies,  and  entire  perfections  inert  f, 
are  arguments  whereby  it  doth  abundantly  evidence 
itself  to  be  the  word  of  God ;  yet,  notwithstanding 
our1*  fuH  persuasion,  and  assurance  of  the  infallible 
truth,  and  divine  authority  thereof,  is  from  the  in- 
ward work  of  the  holy  Spirit,  bearing  witness  by 
and  with  the  word  in  our  hearts. 

6.  The  whole  counsel  of  God  concerning  all 
things  *  necessary  for  his  own  glory,  man's  salva- 
tion, faith  and  life,  is  either  expressly  set  down,  or 
necessarily  contained  in  the  holy  scripture  ;  unto 
which  nothing  at  any  time  is  to  be  added,  whether 
by  new  revelation  of  the  Spirit,  or  traditions  of 
men. 

Nevertheless  we  acknowledge  the  fc  inward  illu- 


g  2  Peter  i.  19,  20,21.  2  Timothy  iii.  16.  2  Tbessalo- 
nians  ii.  13.  1  John  v.  9.  h  John  xvi.  13,  14.  1  Corin- 
thians ii  >0,  11,  12.  1  John  i.  2,  20,  27.  i  2  Timothy 
iii.  15,  16,  17.  Galatians  i.  8,  9.  k  John  vi.  45.  1  Co- 
rinthians ii.  9,  10, 11,  12. 


16  ©f  the  Holy   Scti/itufes. 

mination  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be  necessary  foi 
the  saving  understanding  of  such  things  as  are  re- 
vealed in  the  Word,  and  that  there  are  some  cir- 
cumstances concerning  the  worship  of  God,  and 
government  of  the  church,  common  to  human  ac- 
tions and  societies  ;  which  arc  to  be  *  ordered  by 
the  light  of  nature,  and  christian  prudence,  accord- 
ing to  the  general  rules  of  the  word,  which  are  al- 
ways to  be  observed. 

7.  All  things  in  scripture  are  not  alike  m  plain  in 
themselves,  nor  alike  clear  unto  all;  yet  those 
things  which  are  necessary  to  be  known,  believed, 
and  observed  for  salvation,  are  so  "clearly  pro- 
pounded, and  opened  in  sonrv;  place  of  scripture  or 
other,  that  not  only  the  learned,  but  the  unlearned, 
in  a  due  use  of  ordinary  means,  may  attain  to  a 
suffiaent  understanding  of  them. 

8.  The  Old  Testament  in  °  Hebrew,  (which  was 
t!>e  native  language  of  the  people  of  God  of  old) 
and  the  New  Testament  in  Greek,  which  (at  the 
time  of  writing  it)  was  most  generally  known  to 
the  nations,  being  immediately  inspired  by  God, 
and  by  his  singular  care  and  providence  kept  pure 
in  all  ages,  are  therefore  p  authentical  ;  so  as  in  all 
controversies  of  religion,  the  church  is  finally  ta 
appeal  unto  them  1.  But  because  these  original 
tongues  are  not  known  to  all  the  people  ol  God, 
who  have  a  right  unto,  and  interest  in  the  scriptures, 
and  are  commanded  in  the  fear  of  God  to  read1"  and 
search  them,  therefore  they  are  to  be  translated 
into  the  vulgar   language  of  e  very  nation,    unto 


/  1  Corinthians  xi.  13,  14  xiv.  26,  40.  m  2  Peter  iii. 
16  n  Psalm  xix.  7.  cxix  130.  o  Romans  iii.  2. 
p  Isaiah  viii.  20.        g  Acts  xv.  15.        r  John  v  3-9. 


Qf  God  and   the  Holy    Trinity,  \7 

which  they s  come,  that  the  word  of  God  c  dwelling 
plentifully  in  all,  they  may  worship  him  in  an  ac- 
ceptable manner,  and  through  patience  and  coiw- 
fort  of  the  scriptures  may  hope. 

9.  The  infallible  rule  of  interpretation  of  scrip- 
ture" is  the  scripture  itself :  And  therefore  when 
there  is  a  question  about  the  true  and  full  sense  of 
any  scripture,  (which  is  not  manifold  but  one)  it 
must  be  searched  by  other  places,  that  speak  more 
clearly. 

JO.  The  supreme  judge  by  which  all  contro- 
versies of  religion  are  to  be  determined,  and  all  de- 
crees of  councils,  opinions  of  ancient  writers,  doc- 
trines of  men,  and  private  spirits,  are  to  be  exam- 
ined, and  in  whose  sentence  we  are  to  rest,  can  be 
no  other  bat  the  holy  scripture  delivered  by  the 
Spirit,  into  which  *  scripture  so  delivered,  our  faith 
is  finally  resolved. 


CHAPTER  If. 

OF  GOD  AND  THE  HOLY  TRINITY. 

1.  The  Lord!  our  God  is  but  a  one  only  living, 
and  true  God  ;  whose  i>  subsistence  is  in  and  of 
himself,  c  infinite  in  being  and  perfection,  whose  es- 
sence cannot  be  comprehended  by  any  but  himself; 

s  1  Corinthians  xiv.  6,  9,  11, 12,  24,  28.  t  Colessianj 
iii.  16.  v  2  Peter  i.  20,  21  Acts  xv.  15, 16.  x  Mat. 
thevv  xxii.  29,  33.  Ephesians  ii.  20.  Acts  xxviii.  23.  / 
1  Corinthians  viii.  6.  Deuteronomy  vi.  4.  b  Jeremiah  3 
It).  Isaiah  xlviii.  12.        c  Exodus  iii.  14. 

B2 


.18  Of  God  and  the  Holy  Trinity . 

d  a  most  pure  Spirit,  e  invisible,  without  body, 
pans,  or  passions,  who  only  hath  immortality, 
dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  approach 
Utuo,  who  isf  immutable,  g  immense,11  eternal,  in- 
comprehensible^ almigh  y,  eveiy  way  infinite,  k 
most  holy,  most  wise,  most  free,  most  absolute,  ] 
working  all  things  to  the  counsel  of  bis  own  immu- 
table and  most  righteous  wili,m  tor  his  own  glory, 
most  loving,  gracious,  merciful,  long  suffering, 
abundant  in  goodness  and  truth,  forgiving  iniquuy, 
transgression  and  sin,11  the  rewarder  o-  them  that 
diligently  seek  him,  and  withal  most  just,  °  and 
terrible  in  his  judgments,  P  hating  all  sin,  and  will 
by  no  means  clear  thei  guilty. 

2.  God  having  all  r  life, s  glory,1  goodness,  bles- 
sedness, in  and  of  himself,  is  aioi  e  in,  and  unto 
himself  all  sufficient,  not  u  standing  in  need  of  any 
creature  which  he  hath  mode,  nor  deriving  any 
glory  from  them,  but  only  manifesting  his  own 
glory  in,  by,  unto,  and  upon  them,  he  is  the  alone 
fountain  of  all  being,  x  of  whom,  through  whom, 
and  to  whom  are  all  things,  an'!  he  hath  most  sov- 
ereign y  dominion  overall  creatures,  to  do  by  them, 
for  them,  or  upon  them,  whatsoever  himself  pleas- 


d  John  iv.  24.  e  1  Timothy  i.  17-  Deuteronomy  iv.  15, 
16.  /Malachi  in.  6.  g  1  Kings  viii.  27.  Jeremiah  xx'ni. 
23.  h  Psalm  xc.  2.  i  Genesis  xvii.  1.  k  Isaiah  vi  3. 
I  Psalm  cxv.  3.  Isaiah  xlvi.  10.  m  Proverbs  xvi.  4.  Ro- 
mans xi.  36.  re  Exodus  xxxiv.  6,  7.  Hebrews  xi.  6.  o  Ne- 
hemiah  ix.  32,  33.  p  Psalm  v.  5,  6  g  Exodus  xxxiv.  7. 
Nahum  i.  2,  3.  r  John  v.  26.  s  Psalm  cxlviii.  13.  t  Psalm 
cxix.  68.  it  Job  xxii.  2,  3.  a;  Romans  xi.  34,  35,  36= 
y  Daniel  iv.  25,  34,  35. 


Of  God  and  the  Holy  Trinity.  19 

eth  ;  in  his  sight  z  all  things  are  open  and  manifest, 
his  knowledge  is  *  infinite,  infallible,  and  indepen- 
dent upon  the  creature,  so  as  nothing  is  to  him 
Contingent  or  uncertain  ;  he  is  most  holy  in  all  his 
counsels,  in  b  all  his  works,  and  in  all  his  com- 
mands; to  him  is  due  c  from  angels  and  men,  what- 
soever worship,  service,  or  obedience,  as  creatures 
they  owe  unto  the  Creator,  and  whatever  he  is  fur- 
ther pleased  to  require  of  them. 

3.  In  this  divine  and  infinite  Being  there  are 
three  subsistences,  d  the  Father,  the  Word,  (or 
Son)  and  Holy  Spirit,  of  one  substance,  power  and 
eternity,  each  having  the  whole  divine  essence,  e 
yet  the  essence  undivided:  the  Father  is  of  none 
neither  begotten,  nor  proceeding,  the  Son  is  f  eter- 
nal iy  begotten  of  the  Father,  the  Holy  Spirit  g  pro- 
ceeding from  the  Father  and  the  Son,  all  infinite, 
v.  ithout  beginning,  therefore  but  one  God,  who  is 
not  to  be  divided  in  nature  and  being,  but  distin- 
guished by  several  peculiar,  relative  properties, 
and  personal  relations  ;  which  doctrine  of  the  Trini- 
ty is  the  foundation  of  all  our  communion  with 
God,  and  comfortable  dependence  on  him. 


z  Hebrews  iv.  13.  a  Ezekiel  xi.  5.  Acts  xv.  18. 
b  Psalm  cxlv.  17.  c  Revelation  v.  12,  13,  14.  d  1  John  v. 
7.  Matthew  xxviii.  19.  2  Corinthians  xiii.  14.  e  Exodus 
hi.  14  John  xiv.  11,  1  Corinthians  viii.  6.  /John  i.  14,  18. 
.§•  John  xv.  26.  Galatians  iv.  6. 


20  Of  God's  Decree. 


CHAPTER  III. 

OF    GODJS    DECREE. 

I.  God  hatha  decreed  in  himself,  from  all  eter- 
nity, by  the  most  wise  and  holy  counsel  of  his  owo 
Will,  freely  and  unchangeably,  all  things  whatso- 
ever comes  to  pass;  yet  so  as  thereby  is  God  nei- 
ther the  author  of  sin,  b  nor  hath  fellowship  with 
any  therein,  nor  is  violence  offered  to  the  will  of 
the  creature,  nor  yet  is  the  liberty,  or  contingency 
of  second  causes  taken  away,  but  rather  c  establish- 
ed, in  which  appears  his  wisdom  in  disposing  all 
tilings,  and  power  and  faithfulness  d  in  accom- 
plishing his  decree. 

2.  Although  God  knoweth  whatsoever  may,  or 
can  come  to  pass  upon  all  e  supposed  conditions  ; 
yet  hath  he  not  decreed  any  thing,  f  because  he 
foresaw  it  as  future,  or  as  that  which  would  come 
to  pass  upon  such  conditions. 

3.  By  the  decree  of  God,  for  the  manifestation  of 
his  glory,  s  some  men  and  angels  are  predestinated, 
or  foreordained  to  eternal  life,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  to  theh  praise  of  his  glorious  grace;  others 
being  left  to  act  in  their  sin  to  their1  just  condem- 
nation, to  the  praise  of  his  glorious  justice. 

4  These  angels  and  men  thus  predestinated,  and 
foreordained,  are  particularly,  and    unchangeably 

a  Isaiah  xlvi.  10.  Ephesians  i.  11.  Hebrews  vi.  17.  Ro- 
mans ix.  15,  18.  b  James  i.  15,  17.  1  John  i.  5.  c  Acts  iv. 
27,  28.  John  xix.  11.  d  Numbers  xxiii.  19  Ephesians  i. 
3,  4,  5.  e  Acts  xv.  18.  /Romans  ix.  11,  13,  16,  18. 
g  1  Timothy  v.  21.  Matthew  xxv.  34.  h  Ephesians  i.  5,  %'. 
i  Romans  ix.  22,  23.  Jude  4. 


Of  God's  Decree.  21 

designed  ;  and  their  k  number  so  certain,  and  defi- 
nite, that  it  cannot  be  either  increased  or  dimin- 
ished. 

5.  Those  of  mankind  l  that  are  predestinated  to 
life,  God,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  was 
laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and  immutable  pur- 
pose, c.nd  the  secret  counsel  and  good  pleasure  of 
his  will,  hath  chosen  in  Christ  unto  everlasting 
glory,  out  of  his  mere  free  grace  and  love  ;m  wi  h- 
out  any  other  thing  in  the  creature  as  a  condition 
or  cause  moving  him  thereunto. 

6.  As  God  hath  appointed  the  elect  unto  glory, 
so  he  hath  by  the  eternal  and  most  free  purpose  of 
his  will,  foreordained  n  all  the  means  thereunto, 
wherefore  they  who  are  elected,  being  fallen  in 
Adam,  °  are  redeemed  by  Christ,  are  effectual ly  p 
called  unto  faith  in  Christ*  by  his  Spirit  working 
in  due  season,  are  justified,  adopted,  sanctified  and 
kept  by  his  power  through  faith  1  unto  salvation ; 
neither  are  any  other  redeemed  by  Christ,  or  effec- 
tually called,  justified,  adopted,  sanctified,  and 
saved,  but  the  elect  r  only. 

7  The  doctrine  of  this  high  mystery  of  predes- 
tination, is  to  be  handled  with  special  prudence  and 
care  ;  'hat  men  amending  the  will  of  God  revealed 
in  his  Word,  and  yielding  obedience  thereunto, 
may,  from  the  certain'y  of  their  effectual  vocation, 
be  assmed  of  their  s  eternal  election;  so  shall  this 


k  2  Timothy  ii.  19.  John  xiii.  18.  I  Ephesians  i.  4,  9, 11. 
Romans  viii.  30.  STimo'hy  i.  9.  1  Thessalonians  v.  9. 
m  Romans  ix.  13,  16.  Ephesians  ii.  9.  12.  n  1  Peter  i.  2. 
2  Thessalonians  ii.  13  o  1  Thessalonians  v.  9,  10.  p  Ro- 
mans viii.  30-  2  Thessalonians  ii.  13.  g  2  Peter  i.  3. 
7- John  x  26.  John  xvii.  9.  John  vi.  44.  s  1  Thessalonians 
i.4,5,    2  Peter  i.  10. 


32  Of  Creation. 

doctrine  afford  matter l  of  praise,  reverence,  and 
admiration  of  God,  and  »  of  humility,  diligence, 
and  abundant  x  consolation,  to  all  that  sincerely 
obey  the  Gospel. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OF    CREATION, 

*.  In  the  beginning  it  pleased  God  the  Father, 
a  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  for  the  manifestation  of  the 
glory  of  b  his  eternal  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness, 
to  create  or  make  the  world,  and  all  things  therein, 
°  whether  visible,  or  invisible,  in  the  space  of  six 
days,  and  all  very  good. 

2.  After  God  had  made  all  other  creatures,  he 
treated  d  man,  male  and  female,  with  e  reasonable 
and  immortal  souls,  rendering  them  fit  unto  that 
life  to  God,  for  which  they  were  created,  being  f 
made  after  the  image  of  God,  in  knowledge,  righte- 
ousness, and  true  holiness ;  having  the  law  of  God 
9  written  in  their  hearts,  and  power  to  fulfil  it;  and 
yet  under  a  possibility  of  transgressing,  being  left 
to  the  liberty  of  their  own  will,  which  was  h  subject 
to  change. 

3.  Besides  the  law  written  in  their  hearts,  they 
received  'l  a  command  not  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  know- 


t  Ephesians  i.  6.  Romans  xi.  33.  u  Romans  xw  5,  6. 
a?  Luke  x.  20.  a  John  i.  1,  5  Hebrews  i.  2.  Job  xxvi.  13. 
b  Romans  i.  20.  c  Colossians  i.  16.  Genesis  ii.  1,  2. 
d  Genesis  i.  27.  e  Genesis  ii.  7.  /Ecclesiastes  vii.  29- 
Genesis  i.  26.  g  Romans  ii.  14,  IS.  A  Genesis  iii.  6. 
i  Genesb  ii.  17.  and  iii.  8,  9, 10. 


Of  Divine  Providence.  26 

ledge  of  good  and  evil ;  which,  whilst  they  kept, 
they  were  happy  in  their  communion  with  God, 
and  had  dominion  k  over  the  creatures. 


CHAPTER  V. 

OF  DIVINE    PROVIDENCE. 

1.  God,  the  good  Creator  of  all  things,  in  his  in- 
finite power  and  wisdom,  doth  a  uphold,  direct,  dis- 
pose, and  govern  ail  creatures,  and  things,  from 
the  greatest  even  to  the  b  least,  by  his  most  wi>e 
and  holy  Providence,  to  the  end  for  which  they 
were  created,  according  unto  his  infallible  fore-know- 
ledge, and  the  free  and  immutable  counsel  of  his  c 
own  will;  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  wisdom, 
power,  justice,  infinite  goodness  and  mercy. 

2.  Although  iu  relation  to  the  fore-knowledge 
and  decree  of  God,  the  first  cause,  all  things  come 
to  pass  d  immutably  and  infallibly ;  so  that  there  is 
not  any  thing  befalls  any  e  by  chance,  or  without  his 
Providence ;  yet  by  the  same  Providence  he  or- 
dereth  them  to  fall  out  according  to  the  nature  of 
second  causes,  either  f  necessarily,  freely,  or  con- 
tingently. 

3.  God  in  his  ordinary  Providence  s  maketh  use 
of  means ;  yet  is  free  h  to  work  without,  *  above, 
and  k  against  them  at  his  pleasure. 


£Genesi»  i.  26,  28  a  Hebrews  i.  3.  John  xix.  11. 
Isaiah  xlvi.  10,  11.  Psalm  xiii.  5,  6.  b  Matthew  x.  26,  30, 
31.  c  Ephesians  i.  11.  d  Acts  ii.  23.  e  Proverbs  xvi.  33. 
/  Genesis  viii.  22  g  4cts  xxvii  31,  44.  IsaLh  lv.  lo.  11. 
h  Hosea  i.  7.    i.  Romans  iy.  19,  20,  21.    k  Bajiiel  iii.  27. 


'24  Of  Divine  Providence. 

4.  The  Almighty  power,  unsearchable  wisdom; 
and  infinite  goodness  of  God,  so  far  manifest  them- 
selves in  his  Providence,  that  his  determinate  coun- 
sel !  extendeth  itself  even  to  the  first  fall,  and  all 
other  sinful  actions  both  of  angels  and  men ;  (and 
that  not  by  a  bare  permission)  which  also  he  most 
wisely  and  powerfully  m  boundeth,  and  otherwise 
ordere'vh,  and  governeth,  in  a  manifold  dispensation 
to  his  most  holy  n  ends ;  yet  so  as  the  sinfulness  of 
their  acts  proceedeth  only  from  the  creatures,  and 
not  from  God  ;  who,  being  most  holy  and  righteous, 
neither  is,  nor  can  be,  the  author  or  °  approver  of 
sin. 

5.  The  most  wise,  righteous,  and  gracious  God, 
doth  oftentimes  leave  for  a  season  his  own  children 
to  manifold  temptations,  and  the  corruptions  of 
their  own  hearts,  to  chastise  them  for  their  former 
sins,  or  to  discover  unto  them  the  hidden  strength 
of  corruption,  and  deceitfulness  of  their  hearts,  p 
that  they  may  be  humbled;  and  to  raise  them  to  a 
more  close  and  constant  dependance  for  their  sup- 
port upon  himself,  and  to  make  them  more  watch- 
ful against  all  future  occasions  of  sin,  and  for  other 
just  and  holy  ends. 

So  that  whatsoever  befalls  any  of  his  elect  is  by 
his  appointment,  for  his  glory,  <i  and  thejr  good. 

6.  As  for  those  wicked  and  ungodly  men,  whom 
God  as  a  righteous  judge,  for  former  sin  doth  » 
i.       i  ...         »       > . 

I  Romans  xi.  32,  33,  34.  2  Samuel  xxiv.  1.  1  Chronicles 
xxi.  1.  m2  Kings  xix.  28.  Psalm  lxxvi.  10.  n  Genesis  1. 
20  Isaiah  x.  6, 7, 12.  o  Psalm  1. 21.  John  ii.  16.  /» 2  Chro- 
nic :<j*  xxxii.  25,  26,31.  2  Samuel  xxiv.  1.  2  Corinthians 
xii.  7  8,9.  g  Romans  viii.  26.  r  Romans  i.  24*  25, 28.  an* 
.si.  7,  8. 


Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of  Sin,  &c.  25 

blind  and  harden ;  from  them  he  not  only  with- 
h"ldeth  his1  grace,  whereby  they  might  have  been 
enlightened  in  their  understanding,  and  wrought 
upon  in  their  hearts;  but  sometimes  also  with- 
draweth  t  the  gifts  which  they  had,  and  exposeth 
them  to  such  u  objects  as  their  corruptions  make 
occasion  of  sin;  and  withal,  x  gives  them  over  to 
their  own  lusts,  and  temptations  of  the  world,  and 
the  power  of  Satan,  whereby  it  comes  to  pass,  that 
they  y  harden  themselves,  even  under  those  means 
which  God  useth  for  the  softening  of  others. 

7.  As  the  Providence  of  God  doth  in  general 
reach  to  all  creatures,  so  after  a  more  special  man- 
ner it  taketh  care  of  his  *  Churchy  and  disposeth  of 
all  things  to  the  good  thereof. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

«F  THE    FALL  OF    MAN,  OF  SIX,  AHB   OF  THE 
PUNISHMENT    THEREOF. 

1.  Although  God  created  man  upright,  and 
perfect,  and  gave  him  a  righteous  law,  which  bad 
been  unto  life  had  he  kept  if,  a  and  threatened 
death  upon  the  breach  there  f ;  yet  he  did  not  iong 
abide  in  this  honour  ;  b  Satan  us'mg  the  subtility  of 

s  Deuteronomy  xxix  4.  t  Matthew  x>  ii.  12  u  Deuter- 
onomy ii.  30  2  Kings  viii  12,13  x  Psalm  lxxxi  11,12. 
2  Thessalonians  ii.  10,  11,  12.  y  Exodus  viii.  15.  32.  Isaiah 
vi.  9,  10.  1  Peter  ii.  7,  8  ;  lTimothy  iv  10.  Kmm  ix.  8, 
9.  Isai  h  xliii.  3,  4,  5  a  Genesis  ii.  16,  17.  b  Genesis  iir. 
12,  13.  2  Corinthians  xi.  3. 

c 


26  Of  the  Fall  of  Man,  of  Sin,  &c. 

the  serpent  to  seduce  Eve,  then  by  her  seducing 
Adam,  who,  without  any  compulsion,  did  wilfully 
transgress  the  law  of  their  creation,  and  the  com- 
mand given  unto  them,  in  eating  the  forbidden 
fruit ;  which  God  was  pleased  according  to  his 
wise  and  holy  counsel  to  permit,  having  purposed 
to  oider  it,  to  his  own  glory. 

2.  Our  first  parents  by.  this  sin,  fell  from  their 
°  original  righteousness  and  communion  with  G<,d, 
and  we  in  them,  whereby  death  came  upon  all  ;  d 
all  becoming  dead  in  sin,  and  wholly  defiled,  e  in 
all  the  faculties,  and  parts  of  soul  and  body. 

3.  They  beim;  the  f  root,  and,  by  God's  appoint* 
mer.t,  standing  in  the  room  and  stead  of  all  man- 
kind ;  the  guilt  of  the  sin  was  imputed,  and  cor~ 
rufited  nature  conveyed  to  all  their  posterity,  {de- 
scending fiom  them  by  ordinary  generation,  being 
now  s  conceived  in  sin,  and  by  nature  children  h  of 
wrath,  the  servants  of  sin,  the  subjects  J  of  death, 
and  all  other  miseries,  spiritual,  temporal  and  eter- 
nal, unless  the  Lord  Jesus  k  set  them  free. 

4.  From  this  original  corruption,  whereby  we 
are  l  utterly  indisposed,  disabled,  and  made  oppo- 
site to  all  good,  and  wholly  inclined  to  all  evil,  do 
m  proceed  all  actual  transgressions. 

5  This  corruption  of  nature,  during  this  life, 
doth  n  remain  in  those  that  are  regenerated ;  and 


c  Romans  iii.  23.  d  Romans  v.  12,  &.c.  e  Titus  i.  15. 
Genesis  vi  5.  Jeremiah  xvh.  9.  Romans  iii.  10— 19.  /Ro- 
mans v.  12.  19.  1  Corinthians  xv.  21,  22.  45  49.  g  Psalm 
11  5.  Job.  xiv.  4.  h  Epheslahs  ii.  3.  j  Romans  vi.  20,  and 
v.  12.  k  Hebrews  ii,  14.  IThessalonians  i.  10.  I  Romans 
viii.  7-  Colossians  i.  21.  m  James  i.  14,  15.  Matthew  xv. 
39.     n  Romans  vii.  16.  23.  Ecclesiastes  vii.  20.  1  John  i.  8. 


Of  GoWs  Covenant,  21 

although  it  be  through  Christ  pardoned,  and  mor- 
tified, yet  both  itself,  and  the  first  motions  thereof, 
are  truly  and  properly  °  sin. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
of  god's  covenant. 

1.  The  distance  between  God  and  the  creature 
is  so  great,  that  although  reasonable  creatures  do 
owe  obedience  unto  him  as  their  Creator,  yet  they 
could  never  have  attained  the  reward  of  life  but 
by  some  a  voluntary  condescension  on  God's  part, 
which  he  hath  been  pleased  to  express,  by  w*y  of 
covenant. 

2.  Moreover,  man  having  brought  himself  b  un- 
der the  curs,  of  the  law  by  his  fall,  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  make  a  covenant  o'~  grace,  wherein  he  free- 
ly offereth  unto  sinners  c  life  and  salvation  by  Je- 
sus Christ,  requiring  of  them  faith  in  him,  that 
'they  might  be  saved  ;  ancj  d  promising  to  give  unto 
all  those  that  are  ordained  unto  eternal  life,  his  holy 
Spirit,  to  make  them  willing,  and  able  to  believe. 

3.  This  covenant  is  revealed  in  the  gospel  first 
of  all  to  Adam  in  the  promise  of  salvation  by  the  e 
seed  of  the  woman,  and  afterwards  by  farther  steps, 
until  the  full  f  discovery  thereof  was  completed  in 


o  Romans  vii.  24,  25.    Galatians  v.  17.     a  Luke  xvii.    10. 
Job   xxxv    7,  8.     b  Genesis  iii.  17.    Galatians  iii.  10 
•mans  iii.  20,  21.       c  Romans  viii.  3.         Mark  xvi.  15,  16. 
John  iii.  16.         rfEzekiel    xxxn.  26,  27.  John    vi.  44,  45. 
Psalm   ex.  3.      e  Genesis  iii.  15.      /Hebrews  i.  1. 


28  Of  Christ  the  Mediator. 

the  New  Testament ;  and  it  is  founded  in  that  s 
eternal  covenant  '.ransactien,  that  Mas  between  ihe 
Father  and  the  Son  about  the  redemption  of  the 
elect  ;  and  it  is  alone  by  the  grace  of  this  covenant, 
that  all  of  the  posterity  of  fallen  Adam,  that  ever 
■were  h  saved,  did  obtain  life  and  blessed  immor- 
tality ;  man  being  now  utterly  incapable  of  a<  ca  pt- 
ance  wit  God  upon  those  terms  on  which  Adam 
stood  in  his  state  of  innocency. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

.      ©F   CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR. 

1.  It  pleaded  God,  in  his  eternal  purpose,  to  choose 
and  ordain  the  Lord  Jesus,  his  only  and  bt -gotten 
Sun,  according  to  the  covenant  made  between 
them  both,  a  to  be  the  Mediator  between  G^d  and 
man  ;  the  b  prophet,  c  priest,  and  d  king  ;  *  head  and 
Saviour  of  his  church,  the  f  heir  of  all  things,  and 
£  judge  of  the  world;  unto  whom  he  did  from  all 
eternity  e  give  a  people  to  be  his  seed,  and  to  be 
by  him  in  time  redeemed,  caiied,  justified,  sancti- 
fied, and  glorified. 

2.   The  Son   of  God,  the  second  person   in  the 
Holy   Trinity,    being    very    and   eternal  God,  the 


g  2  Timothy  i.  9.  Titus  i.  2.  h  Hebrews  xi  6  13.  Ro- 
mans iv.  1,  2,  &c.  Acts  iv.  12.  John  viii.  56.  a  Isaiah  xlii. 
1.1  Peter  i  9,10.  h  Acts  iii.  22.  c  Hebrews  v.  5,  6. 
JPsdm  ii.  6.  Luke  i.  3o  *  Eph<  sums  i.  23.  f  BebrtWs 
i.  2.  i  Acts  xvii.  31.  e  Isaiah  liii.  10.  dolm  xvii.  6; 
Romans  viii.  30. 


Of  Christ  the  Mediator.  29 

brightness  of  the  Father's  glory,  of  one  substance, 
and  equal  with  him;  who  made  the  world,  who  up- 
hokieth  and  governeth  all  things  he  haih  made; 
did,  when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  take  upon 
him  f  man's  nature,  with  all  the  essential  proper- 
ties, and  common  infirmities  Lhercoi,  s  yet  without 
sin;  being  conceived  by  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the 
womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  the  Holy  Spirit  coming 
down  upon  her,  and  the  power  of  the  Most  High 
overshadowing  her,  b  and  so  was  made  of  a  woman, 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  of  the  seed  of  Abraham  and 
David,  according  to  the  scriptures :  so.  that  two 
whole,  perfect,  and  distinct  natures,  were  insepa- 
rably joined  together  in  one  person,  without  con- 
version^ composition^  or  confusion;  which  person  is 
very  God  and  very  man,  yet  one  *  Christ,  the  only 
Mediator  between  Gud  and  man. 

3.  The  Lord  Jesus  in  his  human  nature  thus 
united  to  the  divine,  in  the  person  of  the  Son,  was 
sanctified,  and  anointed  k  with  the  Holy  Spirit, 
above  measure  ;  having  in  him  *  all  the  treasures 
of  wisdom  and  knowledge;  in  whom  it  pleased  the 
Father,  that  m  ail  fulness  should  dwell :  to  the  end, 
that  being  R  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  and  full  °  of 
grace,  and  truth,  he  might  be  thoroughly  furnish- 
ed to  execute  the  ofTicc  of  a  Mediator,  and  p  Sure- 
ty ;  which  office  he  took  not  upon  himself,  but  wag 


/'John  i.  14.  Galatians  iv.  4-  g  Romans  viii.  3.  He- 
brews ii.  14.  16,  17.  and  iv.  15.  h  Luke  i.  27.  31.  35. 
i  llomans  ix.  5.  1  Timothy  ii.  5.  k  Psalm  xlv.  7.  Acts  x. 
38.  John  iii.  34.  I  Colossians  ii.  3.  m  Colossians  i.  19. 
n  Hebrews  vii.  26.     o  John  i.   14.    p  Hebrews  vxi.    22. 

'c2 


-30  ®f  Christ  the  Mediator, 

thereunto  9  called  by  his  father  ;  who  also  put  *  all 
power  and  judgment  in  his  hand,  and  gave  him 
commandment  to  execute  the  same. 

4.  This  office  the  Lord  Jesus  did  most  8  willing- 
ly undertake,  which  that  he  might  discharge  he 
was  made  under  the  law,  t  anci  ^id  perfectly  fulfil 
it,  and  underwent  the  u  punishment  due  to  us, 
which  we  should  have  borne  and  suffered,  being 
made  x  sin  and  a  curse  for  us  ;  enduring  most  griev- 
ous sorrows  y  in  his  soul ;  and  most  painful  suffer- 
ings in  his  body  ;  was  crucified,  and  died,  and  re- 
mained in  the  state  of  the  dead  ;  yet  saw  no  z  cor- 
ruption: on  the  a  third  day  he  .-rose  from  the  dead, 
with  the  same  b  body  in  which  he  suffered  ;  with 
which  he  also  c  ascended  into  heaven}  and  there 
sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  d  making 
intercession  j  and  thall  e  return  to  judge  men  and 
angels,  at  the  end  of  the  world. 

5.  The  Lord  Jesus,  by  his  perfect  obedience  and 
sacrifice  of  himself,  winch  he  through  the  eternal 
Spirit  once  offered  up  unto  God,  f  hath  fully  satis- 
fied the  justice  of  God,  procured  reconciliation,  and 
purchased  an  everlasting  inheritance  in  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  s  fur  all  those  whom  the  Father 
hath  given  unto  him. 


q  Hebrews  v.  5.  r  John  v.  22.  27.  Matthew  xxviii.  18. 
Acts  ii.  36.  s  Psalm  xl.  7,  8.  Hebrews  x.  5 — 10  John  x. 
18  t  Galatians  iv.  4.  Matthew  iii.  15.  u  Galatians  hi. 
13.  Isaiah  liii.  6.  1  Peter  iii.  18.  x  2  Corinthians  v.  21. 
y  Matthew  xxvi.  37,  38.  Luke  xxii.  44.  Matthew  xxviL 
46.  z  Acts  xiii.  37.  a  1  Corinthians  xv.  3,  4.  b  John  xx. 
25.  27.  c  Mark  xvi.  19.  Acts  i.  9,  10,  11.  d  Romans  viii. 
34.  Hebrews  ix.  24.  e  Acts  x.  42.  Romans  xiv.  9,  10.  Acts 
i.  11.  /  Hebrews  ix.  14.  and  x.  14.  Romans  iii.  25,  26, 
£  Jolui  xvii.  2.  Hebrews  ix.  15, 


Of  Christ  the  Mediator,  31 

6.  Although  the  price  of  redemption  was  not 
actually  paid  by  Christ,  till  after  his  incarnation,  * 
yet  the  virtue,  efficacy,  and  benefit  thereof  was 
communicated  to  the  elect  in  all  ages  successive- 
ly, from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  in  and  by 
those  promises,  types,  and  sacrifices,  wherein  he 
was  revealed,  and  signified  to  be  the  seed  of  the 
woman,  which  should  bruise  the  serpent's  head  ; 
*»  and  the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world  :  J  being  the  same  yesterday,  and  to  day,  and 

for  ever. 

7.  Christ,  in  the  work  of  mediation,  acteth  accord- 
ing to  both  natures,  by  each  naiurc  doing  that 
which  is  proper  to  itself;  yet  by  reason  of  the  uni- 
ty of  the  person,  that  which  is  proper  to  one  nature, 
is  sometimes  in  Scri/iture  attributed  to  the  person 
k  denominated  by  the  other  nature. 

8.  To  all  those  for  whom  Christ  hath  obtained 
eternal  redemption,  he  doth  certainly  and  effectu- 
ally *  apply,  and  communicate  the  same;  making 
intercession  for  them;  uniting  them  to  himself  by 
his  Spirit;  m  revealing  unto  them,  in  and  by  the 
word,  the  mystery  of  salvation  ;  persuading  them 
to  believe,  and  obey  ;  n  governing  their  hearts  by 
his  word  and  Spirit,  and  °  overcoming  all  their  ene- 
mies by  his  Almighty  power  and  wisdom;  in  such 
manner  and  ways,  as  are  most  consonant  to  his 
wonderful,   and  p  unsearchable  dispensation ;  and 


*  1  Corinthians  x.  4.  Hebrews  iv.  2.  1  Peter  i.  10,  11; 
h  Revelations  xiii.  8.  j  Hebrews  xiii.  8.  k  John  iii.  13. 
Acts  xx  28.  /  John  vL  37  x.  15,  16  and  xvii.  9.  Romans 
v.  10.  m  John  xvii.  6.  Ephesians  i.  9.  1  John  v.  20.  n  Ro- 
mans viii.  9.  14  Psalm  ex.  1.  o  X  Corinthians  XV.  25,  2£e 
p  John  iii.  8.  Ephesians  i.  8. 


32  Of  Free  Will. 

all  of  free  and  absolute  grace,  without  any  condition 
foreseen  in  them,  to  procure  it. 

9.  This  office  of  Mediator  between  God  and  man 
is  proper  <i  only  to  Christ,  who  is  the  prop;  \ 
priest,  and  king  of  the  Church  of  God;  and  may 
not  be,  either  in  whole,  or  any  part  thereof,  trans- 
ferred from  him  to  any  other. 

10.  This  number  and  order  of  offices  is  neces- 
sary ;  for  in  respect  of  our*-  ignorance,  we  stand 
in  need  of  his  prophetical  office ;  and  in  respect  of 
our  alienation  from  God, s  and  imperfection  of  the 
best  of  our  services,  we  need  his  priestly  office,  to 
reconcile  us,  and  present  us  acceptable  unto  God  t 
and  in  respect  of  our  averseness,  and  utter  inability 
to  return  to  God,  and  for  our  rescue,  and  security 
from  our  spiritual  adversaries,  we  need  his  kingly 
office,  *  to  convince,  subdue,  draw,  uphold,  deliver, 
and  preserve  us  to  his  heavenly  kingdom. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OF  FREE  WILL. 

1.  Go»  hath  indued  the  will  of  man  with  that 
natural  liberty  and  power  of  acting  upon  choice, 
that  it  is  a  neither  iorced,  nor  by  any  necessity  of 
nature  determined  to  do  good  or  evil. 

2.  Man,  in  his  state  of  innocency,  had  freedom, 


q  1  Timothy  ii.  5.  r  John  i  18.  s  Colossians  i.  21. 
Gaiaiians  v.  17.  t  John  xvi  8.  Psalm  ex.  3.  a  Mat- 
tView  xvii.  12.  James  i.  14.  Deuteronomy  xxx.  19. 


Of  Effectual  (falling.  5,3 

and  power,  to  will,  and  to  do,  that  b  which  was 
good,  and  well-pleasing  to  God;  but  yet  c  was 
mutable,  so  that  he  might  fall  from  it. 

3.  Man,  by  his  fall  into  a  state  of  sin,  hath  wholly 
lost  d  all  ability  of  will,  to  any  spiritual  good  ac- 
companying salvation  ;  so  as  a  natural  man,  being 
altogether  averse  from  that  good,  e  and  dead  in 
sin,  is  not  able,  by  his  own  strength,  to  f  convert 
himself,  or  to  prepare  himself  thereunto. 

4.  When  God  converts  a  sinner,  and  translates 
him  into  the  state  of  grace,  g  he  freeth  him  from 
his  natural  bondage  under  sin,  and  by  his  grace 
alone,  enables  him  h  freely  to  will,  and  do  that 
which  is  spiritually  good;  yet  so  as  that,  by  reason 
of  his  J  remaining  corruptions,  he  doth  not  perfect- 
ly nor  only  will  that  which  is  good,  but  doth  also 
will  that  which  is  evil. 

5.  The  will  of  man  is  made  k  perfectly  and  im- 
mu'ably  free  to  good  alone  in  the  state  of  glory 
only. 


CHAPTER  X. 

OF    EFFECTUAL    CALLING. 

1.   Those  whom  God    had  predestinated   unto 
life,    he  is  pleaded  in  his  appointed  and  accepted 


b  Ecclesiastc-s  vii.  29.         c  Genesis  iii.  6.         d  Romjaps 
v.  6  and  viii  7.  e  Ephesians  ii.  1.  5.         /Titus  iii.  3, 

4,  5.  John  vi.  44.  g  Colossiaiis  i.  13.  John  viii.  >6. 
A  Philtppiaris  ii.  13.  .  j  Romans  vii-  15.  18,  19.  21.  23; 
k  Ephesians  iv.  13. 


34  Of  Effectual  Calling. 

time  a  effectually  to  call  by  his  Word  and  Spirit, 
out  of"  that  state  of  sin  and  death,  in  which  they  are 
by  nature,  to  grace  and  saivation  b  by  Jesus  Christ ; 
enlightening  their  minds,  spiritually  and  savingly, 
to  c  understand  the  things  of  God  ;  taking  away 
then  d  heart  of  stone,  and  giving  uivo  them  an 
hear'  of  flesh  ;  renewing  their  wills,  and  by  his  al- 
mighty power  determining  them  e  to  that  which  is 
good,  and  effectually  drawing  the  m  to  Jesus  Chi^t; 
y<t  so,  as  they  come  i  most  freely,  being  made 
willing  by  his  grace. 

2.  Phis  effectual  call  is  of  God's  free  and  spe- 
cie grace  alone,  g  not  from  any  thing  at  all  foreseen 
in  mail,  nor  from  any  power  or  agency  in  the  crea- 
ture, co-working  wkh  his  special  grace  ;  h  the 
creature  being  wholly  passive  therein.  being  dead 
in  sins  and  trespasses,  until  being  quickened  and 
renewed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  is  thereby  enabled 
to  answer  this  call,  and  to  embrace  t  ;e  grace  offer- 
ed and  convey  d  in  it,  and  that  by  no  less1  power 
than  that  which  raised  up  Christ   from  the  dead. 

3.  Elect  infants  dying  in  inf  ticy,  art-  k  regene- 
rated and  '.aved  by  Chris;  through  the  Spirit,  who 
workeih  when,  and  where,  and  i  how  he  please  th; 
so  also  are  all  other  elect  persons,  who  are  incapa- 
ble of  being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of 
the  word. 


a  Romans  viii.  30  and  xi  7.  Ephesians  i.  10,  11.  2  Thes- 
salonians  ii-  13,  14.  b  Ephesians  iL  1 — 6.  c  Acts 
xxvi.    18.  Ephesians  i.  17,   18.  d  Ezekiel    xxxvi.  26. 

e  Deuteronomy  xxx.  6.  Ezekiel  xxxvi.  27  Ephesians  i.  19. 
f  Psalm  ex.  3.  Canticles  i.  4.  g  2  Timothy  i.  9.  Ephe- 
sians ii.  8.  h  1  Corinthians  ii  14.  Ephesians  ii.  5.  John 
v  2.5.  i  Ephesians  i.   19.  30.  k  John  iii.  3.  5,  6. 

/John  iii.  8. 


Of  Justification*  3o 

4.  Others  not  elected,  although  they  may  be 
called  by  the  ministry  of  the  word,  m  and  may  have 
some  common  operations  of  the  Spirit;  yet,  not 
being  effectually  drawn  by  the  Father,  they  neither 
will,  nor  can  truly  n  come  to  Christ ;  and  therefore 
cannot  be  saved:  much  less  can  men  that  receive 
not  the  Christian  religion  °  he  saved,  be  they  never 
so  diligent  to  frame  their  lives  a*  cording  to  the 
light  of  nature,  and  the  law  of  that  religion  ihey  do 
profess. 


CHAPTER  XL 

OF    JUSTIFICATION. 

1.  Those  whom  God  effectually  calleth,  he  also 
freely  a  justifieth,  not  by  infusing  righteousness 
in'o  them,  bnt  by  b  pardoning  their  sins,  and  by  ac- 
counting and  accepting  their  peisons,  as  c  righte- 
ous; not  for  any  thing  wrought  in  them,  <<r  done 
by  them,  bin  for  Christ's  s  ke  alone  ;  not  by  impu- 
ting faith  itself,  the  act  of  btlieviig,  or  ny  oth  i  d 
evangelical  obedience  to  them,  as  their  righteous- 
ly ss,  but  by  imputing  Christ's  active  obedience 
unto  the  whoJe  law,  and  passive  obedience  in  his 
death,  for  their  whole  and  sole  righteousness  ;  they 


m  Matthew  xxii.  14.  and  xiii.  2o,  21    Hebrews  vi.  4  5. 
nJohhvi    44,4565.    Uohn  ii  24,25.  o  Acts  iv    12* 

Jolm  iv.  22.  and  xvii.  3  a  Romans  iii.  24.    and  *      30. 

b  Romans  iv.  5 — 8.    Ephesians  \.7.  c  \  On-  nt  i. 

30,  31.  Romans  v    17,  18,19.         d  JPhilippuuis  iii.  8,  9. 
Ephesians  ii.  8,  9,  10. 


36  Of  Justijicalian, 

%  receiving,  and  resting  on  him,  and  his  righteous- 
ness by  faith  ;  which  they  have  not  of  themselves: 
it  is  the  gift  of  God. 

2.  Faith  thus  receiving  and  resting  on  Christ  and 
his  righteousness,  is  the  f  alone  instrument  of  jus- 
tification :  yet  it  is  not  alone  in  the  person  justified, 
but  is  ever  accompanied  with  all  other  saving 
graces,  and  is  no  dead  faith,  s  but  worketh  by  love. 

3.  Christ,  by  his  obedience  and  death,  did  fully 
discharge  the  debt  of  all  those  that  are  justified ; 
and  did  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself,  in  the  blood  of 
his  cross,  undergoing  in  their  stead  the  penalty  due 
unto  them,  make  a  proper,  real  and  full  satisfac- 
tion h  to  God's  justice  in  their  behalf;  yet,  inas- 
much as  he  was  given  by  the  Father  for  them,  and 
his  obedience  and  satisfaction  accepted  in  their 
stead,  and  both  'l  freely,  not  for  any  thing  in  them, 
their  justification  is  only  of  free  grace,  that  both 
the  exact  justice  and  rich  grace  of  God  might  be^ 
glorified  in  the  justification  of  sinners. 

4.  God  did  from  all  eternity  decree  to1  justify  all 
the  elect,  and  Christ  did  in  the  fulness  of  time  die 
for  their  sins,  and  n*  rise  again  for  their  justifica- 
tion ;  nevertheless  they  are  not  justified  personally, 
until  the  Holy  Spirit  doth  in  due  time  n  actually 
apply  Christ  unto  them. 

5.  God  doth  continue  to°  forgive  the  sins  of  those 


e  John  i.  12.  Romans  v  17.  /Romans  iii.  28.  g  Gala- 
tians  v.  6.  James  ii.  17,  22,  26.  h  Hebrews  x.  14.  1  Peter 
i.  18,  19.  Isaiah  liii.  5,  6.  i  Romans  viii.  32.  2  Corinthians 
v.  21.  k  Romans  iii.  26.  Ephesians  i.  6,  7.  and  ii.  7. 
I  Galatians  iii.  8.  1  Peter  i.  2.  1  Timothy  ii.  6.  m  Romans 
iv.  25.  TiColossians  i.  21,  22.  Titos  HI,  4,  5,  C\  7.  a  Mat- 
fhewri.  12.  1  John  i.  7,  9. 


Of  Adoption.  3,7 

that  are  justified;  and  although  they  can  never  fall 
from  the  state  of  p  justification,  yet  they  may  by 
their  sins  fall  under  God's  i  fatherly  displeasure ; 
and  in  that  condition,  they  have  not  usually  the 
light  of  his  countenance  restored  unto  them,  until 
theyr  humble  themselves,  confess  their  sins,  beg 
pardon,  and  renew  their  faith  and  repentance. 

6.  The  justification  of  believers  under  the  Old 
Testament,  was  in  all  these  respects s  one  and  the 
same  with  the  justification  of  believers  under  the 
New  Testament. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

OF  ADOPTION. 

i.  All  those  that  are  justified,  God  vouchsafed 
in  and  for  the  sake  of  his  only  Son,  Jesus  Christ, 
to  make  partakers  of  the  grace  a  of  adoption  ;  by 
which  they  are  taken  into  the  number,  and  enjoy 
the  liberties  and  b  privileges  of  children  of  God; 
have  his  c  name  put  upon  them, d  receive  the  Spirit 
of  adoption,  «  have  access  to  the  throne  of  grace 
with  boldness  ;  are  enabled  to  cry  Abba,  Father ; 
are  f  pitied,  s  protected,  h  provided  for,  and  »  chas- 
tened by  him,  as  by  a  Father ;  yet  never  k  cast  off,  but 


p  John  x.  28.  q  Psalm  lxxxix  31,  32,  33.  r  Psalm 
xxxii.  5.  and  li.  7 — 12.  Matthew  xxvi.  75.  s  Galatians  iii. 
9.  Romans  iv.  22,  23,  24.  aEphesians  i.  5.  Galatians  iv, 
4,  5.  b  John  i.  12.  Romans  viii.  17,  c  2  Corinthians  vi.  18. 
Revelations  iii.  12.  d  Romans  viii.  15  e  Galatians  iv.  6, 
Ephesians  ii  18.  /  Psalm  ciii.  13.  ,§•  Proverbs  xiv.  26. 
h  1  Peter  v.  7.  *  Hebrews  xii,  6.  fc  Isaiah  liv.  8,  -9.  la- 
mentations iii,  31. 

8 


38  Of Sanctijication, 

sealed,  i  to  the  day  of  redemption,  and  inherit  the 
promises, m  as  heirs  of  everlasting  salvation. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

OF  SANCTIFICATION. 

1.  They  who  are  united  to  Christ,  effectually 
called,  and  regenerated,  having  a  new  heart  and 
a  new  spirit  created  in  them,  through  the  virtue  of 
Christ's  death  and  resurrection;  are  also  a  further 
sanctified,  really  and  personally,  through  the  same 
virtue,  b  by  his  word  and  Spirit  dwelling  in  them; 
c  the  dominion  of  the  whole  body  of  sin  is  destroyed, 
d  and  the  several  lusts  thereof,  are  more  and  more 
weakened  and  mortified  ;  and  they  more  and  more 
quickened,  and  e  strengthened  in  all  saving  gracesr 
to  the  f  practice  of  all  true  holiness,  without  which 
no  man  shall  see  the  Loud- 

2.  This  sanctification  is  g  throughout  in  the 
whole  man,  yet  imperfect h in  this  life;  there  abideth 
still  some  remnants  of  corruption  in  every  part, 
whence  arisethaJ  continual  and  irreconciieable  war; 
the  flesh  lusting  against  the  spirit,  and  the  spirit 
against  the  flesh. 

3  In  which  war,  although  the  remaining  cor- 
ruption for  a  tim    may  rauchk  prevail,  yet  through 


ZEphesians  iv.  30.  m  Hebrews  i.  14.  aud  vi.  12.  a  Acts 
xx  32  Romans  vi.  5,  6.  b  John  xvii.  17  Ephesians  iii. 
16— -19.  1  Thessalonians  v.  21.  22,  23  c  Romans  vi.  14. 
rfGalatians  v.  24.  e  Colossians  i.  11.  /  2  Corinthians  vii. 
1  Hebrews  xi i  14  g  1  Thessalonians  V  23.  A  Romans 
vii.  18,25.   ^Gaiatians  v.  If,  I  Peter  ji.  1J.    #Rom#as 

TM.23. 


Of  Saving  Faith.  39 

the  continual  supply  of  strength,  from  the  sanctify- 
ing  Spirit  of  Christ,1  the  regenerate  part  doth 
overcome  ;  and  so  the  saints  grow  in  grace,  perfect- 
ing holiness  in  the  fear  of  God,  m  pressing  after  an 
heavenly  life,  in  evangelical  obedience  to  all  the 
commands  which  Christ,  as  head  and  king,  in  his 
word  hath  prescribed  to  them. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

OF    SAVING    FAITH. 

1.  The  grace  of  faith,  whereby  the  elect  are 
enabied  to  believe  to  the  saving  of  their  souls,  is  the 
work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  »  in  their  hearts,  and 
is  ordinarily  wrought  by  the  ministry  of  the  b  word; 
by  which  also,  and  by  the  administration  of  Bap- 
tism, and  the  Lord's  Supper,  prayer  and  other 
means  appointed  of  God,  it  is  increased,  c  and 
strengthened. 

2.  By  this  faith,  a  Christian  believeth  to  be  true 
d  whatsoever  is  revealed  in  the  word,  for  the  au- 
thority of  God  himself;  and  also  apprehendeth  an 
excellency  therein  e  above  all  other  writings,  and 
all  things  in  the  world:  as  it  bears  forth  the  glory 
of  God  in  his  attributes,  the  excellency  of  Christ  in 
his  nature  and  offices,  and  tru  power  and  fulness  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  in   his  workings  and   operations; 


I  Romans  vi.  14.  m  Ephesians  iv.  15,  16.  2  Corinthians 
iii  18  and  vii.  1.  a  2  Corinthians  iv.  13.  Ephesians  ii.  8. 
b  Romans  x.  14,  17  c  Luke  xvii.  5.  1  Peter  ii.  2.  Acts 
xx.  32.  d  Acts  xxiv.  14.  e  Psalm  xix.  7,  8,  9,  10.  and 
cxix.  72. 


40      Of  Refientance  unto  Life  and  Salvation, 

and  so  is  enabled  to  f  cast  his  soul  upon  the  truth 
thus  believed,  and  also  acteth  differently  upon  that 
which  each  particular  passage  thereof  contaiueth ; 
yielding  obedience  to  the  %  commands,  trembling 
at  the  h  threatenings,  and  embracing  the  i  promises 
of  God,  for  this  life,  and  that  which  is  to  come  :  but 
the  principal  acts  of  saving  faith,  hath  immediate 
relation  to  Christ,  accepting,  receiving,  and  resting 
upon  k  him  alone,  for  justification,  sanctification, 
and  eternal  life,  by  virtue  of  the  covenant  of  grace. 
5.  This  faith*  although  it  be  different  in  degrees, 
and  may  be  weak, l  or  strong,  yet  it  is  in  the  least 
degree  of  it,  different  in  the  kind,  or  nature  of  it, 
(as  is  all  other  saving  grace)  from  the  faith  m  and 
common  grace  of  temporary  believers ;  and  there- 
fore, though  it  may  be  many  times  assailed  and 
weakened,  yet  it  gets  n  the  victory,  growing  up  in 
mnny,  to  the  attainment  of  a  full0  assurance  through 
Christ,  who  is  both  the  author  p  and  finisher  of  our 
faith. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

<*F   REPENTANCE  UNTO  LIFE  AND  SALVATION, 

1 .  Sue  h  of  the  elect  as  are  converted  at  riper  years, 
having  a  sometimes  lived  in  the  state  of  nature, 
and  therein  served  divers  lusts  and  pleasures,  God, 


/ 2  Timothy  i.  12.  ^Jolm  xv  14.  A  Isaiah  lxvi.  2. 
/Hebrews  xi.  13.  k  John  i  12-  Acts  xvi.  31.  Galatians  ii. 
2()  Acts  xv.  11.  I  Hebrews  v.  13,  14.  Matthew  vi.  30. 
Romans  iv.  19,20.  »i  2  Peter  i.  1.  n  Ephesians  vi.  16. 
1  .John  v.  4,  5  o  Hebrews  vi.  11.  12.  Colossians  ii.  % 
/r  Hebrews  xii.  2".  a  Titus  iii.  2,  3,  4,  5. 


Of  Re/ientance  unto  Life  and  Salvation.      41. 

in  their  effectual  calling,  giveth  them  repentance 
unto  life. 

2.  Whereas  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  and 
sinneth  b  not,  and  the  best  of  men  may,  through  the 
power  and  deceiuulness  of  their  corruption  dwell- 
ing in  them,  with  the  prevalency  of  temptation,  fall 
into  greater  sins  and  provocations,  God  hath  in  the 
covenant  of  grace,  mercifully  provided  that  be- 
lievers so  sinning  and  tailing,0  be  renewed  through 
repentance  unto  salvation. 

3.  This  saving  repentance  is  an  d  evangelical 
grace,  whereby  a  person,  being  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
made  sensible  of  the  manifold  evils  of  his  sin,  doth 
by  faith  in  Christ,  humble  himself  for  it,  with  godly 
sorrow,  detestation  of  it,  and  self-abhorrency ;  « 
praying  for  pardon  and  strength  of  grace,  with  a 
purpose  and  endeavour  by  supplies  of  the  Spirit,  to 
f  walk  before  God  unto  all  well  pleasing  in  all 
things. 

4.  As  repentance  is  to  be  continued  through  the 
whole  course  of  our  lives,  upon  the  account  of  the 
body  of  death,  and  the  motions  thereof;  so  it  is 
every  man's  duty  to  repent  of  his  g  particular 
known  sins,  particularly. 

5.  Such  is  the  provision  which  God  hath  made 
through  Christ  in  the  covenant  of  grace,  for  the 
preservation  of  believers  unto  salvation,  that  al- 
though there  is  no  sin  so  small,  but  it  deserves  h 
damnation  ;  yet  there  is  no  sin  so  great,  that  it  shall 
bring    damnation    on   them   that1    repent;    which 


b  Ecclesiastes  vii.  20.  c  Luke  xxii.  31,32.  dZecha- 
riah  xn.  10.  Acts  xi.  18.  e  Ez^kiel  xxxvi.  31.  2  Corin- 
thians vii.  11.  /Psalm  cxix.  6,  128.  g  Luke  xix.  8. 
1  Timothy  i.  13,  15.  h  Romans  vi.  23.  Hsaiab  i.  16,  17, 
18.  and  lv.  7. 

D  2 


42  Of  Good  Works. 

makes  the  constant  preaching  of  repentance  neces- 
sary. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

OF   GOOD   WORKS. 

1.  Good  works  are  only  such  as  God  hath*  com- 
manded in  his  Holy  Word,  and  not  such  as  without 
the  warrant  thereof,  are  devised  by  men,  out  of 
blind  zeal,  b  or  upon  any  pretence  of  good  inten- 
tions. 

2.  These  good  works,  done  in  obedience  to  God's 
commandments,  are  the  fruits  and  evidences  c  of  a 
true  and  lively  faith ;  and  by  them  believers  mani- 
fest their  d  thankfulness,  strengthen  their  e  assu- 
rance, edify  their  f  brethren,  adorn  the  profession 
of  the  Gospel,  stop  the  mouths  of  the  adversaries, 
and  glorify  s  God,  whose  workmanship  they  are, 
created  in  Christ  Jesus  h  thereunto,  that  having 
their  fruit  unto  holiness,  they  may  have  the  end  * 
eternal  life. 

3.  Their  ability  to  do  good  works,  is  not  at  all  of 
themselves,  but  wholly  from  the  spirit  k  of  Christ ; 
and  that  they  may  be  enabled  thereunto,  besides 
the  graces  they  have  already  received,  there  is  ne- 
cessary an l  actual  influence  of  the  same  Holy  Spirit 
to  work  in  them  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  plea- 
sure ;  yet  are  they  not  hereupon  to  grow  negligent, 


a  Micah  vi.  8.  Hebrews  xiii.  21.  b  Matthew  xv.  9. 
Isaiah  xix.  13.  c  James  ii.  18,  22.  d Psalm  cxvi.  12,  13. 
e  1  John  ii.  3,  5.  2  Peter  i.  5—11.  /Matthew  v.  16. 
g  1  Timothy  vi.  1.  1  Peter  ii.  15.  Philippians  l.  11. 
AEphesians  ii.  10.  i  Romans  vi.  22.  £John  xv,  4,  6". 
?2  Corinthians  iii.  5.  Philippians  ii.  IS. 


Of  Good  Works.  43 

as  if  they  were  n^t  bound  to  perform  any  duty,  un- 
less upon  a  spinal  motion  of  the  Spirit.  hut  they 
ought  to  be  diligent  in  m  stirring  up  the  grace  of  God 
that  is  in  them. 

4.  They  who  in  their  obedience  attain  to  the 
greatest  height  which  is  possible  in  this  life,  arc  so 
far  from  being  able  to  supererogate,  and  to  do  more 
than  God  requires,  as  that*1  they  fall  short  of  much 
which  in  duty  they  are  bound  to  do. 

5.  We  cannot  by  our  best  works  merit  pardon  of 
sin,  or  eternal  life  at  the  hand  of  God,  by  reason  of 
the  great  disproportion  that  is  between  them  and 
the  glory  to  come,  and  the  infinite  distance  that  is 
between  us  and  God,  whom  by  them  we  can  never 
profit,  nor  satisfy,  for  the  debt  of  our  •  former  sins, 
but  when  we  have  done  all  we  can,  we  have  done 
but  our  duty,  and  are  unprofitable  servants:  and 
because  as  they  are  good,  th^y  proceed  from  his  P 
Spirit,  and  as  they  are  wrought  by  us,  they  are  de*- 
filed, i  and  mixed  with  so  much  weakness  and  im- 
perfection that  they  cannot  endure  the  severity  of 
God's  judgment. 

6.  Yet  notwithstanding  the  persons  of  believers 
being  accepted  through  Christ,  their  good  works 
also  are  accepted  in  r  him ;  not  as  though  they  were 
in  this  life  wholly  unblamable  and  unreprpvable  in 
God's  sight;  but  that  he  looking  upon  them  in  his 
Son,  is  pleased  to  accept  and  reward  that  which  iss 


m  Philippians  ii.  12.  Hebrews  vi.  11,  12.  Isaiah  lxiv.  7. 
n  Job  ix.  2,  3.  Galatians  v.  17.  Luke  xvii.  10.  o  Romans 
iii.  20.  Ephesians  ii.  8,  9.  Romans  iv.  6.  p  Galatians  v. 
22,  23.  q  Isaiah  lxiv.  6.  Psalm  cxliii.  2.  r  Ephesians  i.  6 
1  Peterii.  5.    s  Matthew  xxv.  21, 23,  Hebrews  vi.  1$, 


4>4        Of  the  Perseverance  of  the  Saints. 

sincere,  although  accompanied  Muth  many  weak- 
nesses and  imperfections. 

7.  Works  done  by  unregenerate  men,  although 
far  'he  matter  of  them,  tbey  may  he  things  which 
God  commands*,  and  of  good  use,  both  to  themselves 
and  '  others;  yet  because  they  proceed  not  from  a 
heart  purified  by  u  faith,  nor  are  done  in  a  right 
manner  according  to  the  w  word,  nor  to  a  right 
end  the  x  glory  of  God,  they  are  sinful,  and  cannot 
please  God,  nor  make  a  man  meet  to  receive  grace 
from  y  God ;  and  yet  their  neglect  of  them  is  more 
simul,  and  z  displeasing  to  God. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

OF    THE    PERSEVERANCE    OF    THE    SAINTS. 

1.  Those  whom  God  hath  accepted  in  the  Be- 
loved, effectually  called  and  sanctified  by  his  Spirit, 
and  given  the  precious  faith  of  his  elect  unto,  can 
neither  totally  nor  finally  fall  from  the  state  of 
gr^ce, a  but  shall  certainly  persevere  therein  to  the 
end,  and  be  eternally  saved,  seeing  the  gifts  and 
callings  of  God  are  without  repentance,  (whence 
he  sill  bege  s  and  nourisheth  in  them  faith,  repent- 
ance.  love,  joy,  hope,  and  all  the  graces  of  the  Spirit 


t  2  Kings  x.  30.  1  Kings  xxi.  27,  29.  u  Genesis  iv.  5. 
H:  brews  xi.  4,  6.  w  1  Corinthians  xiii.  1.  x  Mat- 
thew vi.  2,  j.  y  Amos  v  21,  22.  Romans  ix.  16.  Titus 
in  5.  x  J  >b  xxi  14,  15.  Matt  new  xxv.  41,  42,  43. 
a  loho  x.  28,  29.  PhiLippwis  i.  6.  2  Timothy  ii  19.  1  John 
ii.  19. 


Of  the  Perseverance  of  the  Saints.        45 

to  immortality)  and  though  many  storms  and  floods 
arise  and  beat  against  them,  yet  they  shall  neve 
be  able  to  lake  them  off  that  foundation  and  rock 
which  by  faith  they  are  fastened  upon  :  notwith- 
standing, through  unbelief  and  the  temptations  of 
Satan,  the  sensible  sight  ot  the  light  and  love  of  God 
may  for  a  time  be  clouded,  and  obscured  from  & 
them,  yet  it  is  still  the  same, G  and  they  shall  be 
sure  to  be  kept  by  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion, where  they  shall  enjoy  their  purchased  posses- 
sion, they  being  engraven  upon  the  palm  of  his 
hands,  and  their  names  having  been  written  in  tne 
book  of  Life  from  all  eternity. 

2.  This  perseverance  of  the  saints,  depends  not 
upon  their  own  free  will,  but  upon  the  immutabil- 
ity of  the  decree  ofd  election,  flowing  from  the  free 
and  unchangeable  love  of  God  the  Father,  upon 
the  efficacy  of  the  merit  and  intercession  of  Jesus 
Christ  e  and  union  with  him,  the  f  oath  of  God,  the 
abiding  of  his  Spirit,  and  the  s  seed  of  God  within 
them,  and  the  nature  of  the  h  covenant  of  grace  ; 
from  all  which  ariseth  also  the  certainty  and  infal- 
libility thereof. 

3.  And  though  they  may,  through  the  tempta- 
tion of  Satan,  and  of  the  world,  the  prevalency  of 
corruption  remaining  in  them,  and  the  neglect  of 
means  of  thefr  preservation,  fall  into  grievous  * 
sins,  and  for  a  time  continue  therein  ;  whereby 
they  incur  k  God's  displeasure,  and  grieve  his  Ho- 


b  Psalm  lxxxix.  31, 32.  1  Corinthians  xi.  22.  c  Mala- 
chi  iii.  6.  d  Romans  viii.  30.  and  ix.  11,  16.  e  Ro- 
mans v.  9,  10- John  xiv.  19.  /  Hebrews  vi.  17,18, 
g\  John  iii.  9.  h  Jeremiah  xxxii.f 40  i  Matthew  xxviV 
70,  72,  74.        h  Isaiah  lxiv.  5,  9,  Ephesians  iv.  30. 


46  Of  the  Assurance  of  Grace,  &c. 

ly  Spirit,  come  to  have  their  graces  and  l  comforts 
impaired,  have  their  hearts  hardened,  and  their 
consciences  wounded,  m  hurt  and  scandalize  others, 
and  bring  temporal  judgments"  upon  themselves, 
yel  'hey  shall  renew  their0  repentance,  and  be  pre- 
served, through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  to  the  end. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

OF  THE  ASSURANCE  OF  GRACE  AND  SALVATI  ON. 

1.  Although  'emnorary  believers,  and  other 
•fmregenerate  men,  may  vainly  deceive  themselves 
Ifith  false  hopes,  and  carnal  presumptions,  of  being 
ir.  the  favour  of  God,  and  state  of  salvation,3  which 
hope  of  theirs  shall  perish  ;  yet  such  as  truly  be- 
lieve in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  love  him  in  sincerity, 
endeavouring  to  walk  in  all  good  conscience  be- 
fore him,  may  in  this  life  be  certainly  assured,  b 
that  they  are  in  tne  state  of  grace,  and  may  rejoice 
in  the  hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  which  hope  shall 
never  make  them  c  ashamed. 

2.  This  certainty  is  not  a  bare  conjectural  and 
probable  persuasion,  grounded  upon d  a  fallible 
hope,  but  an  infallible  assurance  of  faith,  founded 
on  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ6  revealed 


I  Psalm li.  10,  12.  m  Psalm  xxxii.  3,  4.  n  2  Sam- 
uel 12,  14.  o  Luke  xxii.  32,  61,  62.  a  Job  viii  13, 
14  Matthew  vii.  22,  23  b  1  John  ii.  3.  in.  14,  18,  19,  21, 

34.  and  v     13.         c  Romans  v.  2,  5.         d  Hebrews  vi.  11, 
X%       e  Hebrews  vi.  17, 18. 


Of  the  Assurance  of  Grace,  Site.  47? 

in  the  gospel  ;  and  also  upon  the  inward  f  evidence 
of  those  graces  of  the  Spirit  unto  which  promises 
are  made,  and  on  the  testimony  of  the  s  Spirit  of 
adoption,  witnessing  with  our  spirits,  that  we  are 
the  children  of  God  ;  and,  as  a  fruit  thereof,  keep- 
ing the  heart  both  h  humble  and  holy. 

3.  This  infallible  assurance  doth  not  so  belong 
to  the  essence  of  faith,  but  that  a  true  believer  may 
wait  long,  and  conflict  with  many  difficulties,  be- 
fore he  bei  partaker  of  it ;  yet  being  enabled  by 
the  Spirit,  to  know  the  things  which  are  freely 
given  him  of  God,  he  may,  without  extraordinary 
revelation,  in  the  right  use  of  means  k  attain  there- 
unto ;  and  therefore  it  is  the  duty  of  every  one  to 
give  all  diligence  to  make  their  catling  and  election 
sure,  that  thereby  his  heart  may  be  enlarged  in 
peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  love  and  thank- 
fulness to  God,  and  in  strength  aid  cheerfulness  in 
the  duties  of  obedience,  the  proper  i  fruits  of  this 
assurance ;  so  far  is  it  na  from  inclining  men  to 
looseness. 

4.  True  believers  may  have  the  assurance  of 
their  salvation  divers  ways  shaken,  diminished  and 
intermitted  ;  asn  by  negligence  in  preserving  of  it* 
by  °  tailing  into  some  special  sin,  which  woundeth 
the  conscience,  a  d  gri^veth  the  Spirit;  by  some 
sudden  or  p  vehement  temptation  ;  by  God's  with- 
drawing the  9  iight  of  his  countenance,  and  sufrVr» 

/  2  Peter  i.  4,    5,10,    ll.  #•  Romans  viii.     15,16. 

[i  1  John  iii.  1—3.  *  Isaiah  1  10.  Psalm  lxxxv.ii.' 
and  lxxvii.  1—12.  k  1  John  iv.  13  Hebrews  vi.  11.  12* 
I  Romans  v.  1,  2,  5.  and  xiv  17.  Psalm  cxix  32. 
m  Rom  ms  vi.  1,  2.  Titus  ii.  11.  12, 14.  n  C;  nticles  v.  2  3 
o  P-  Am  u.  8,  12  14.  p  I'salm  w  ill,  kxvn.V 
8.  «n4  *Wi.  22*        q.  Psalm  x».  T, 


48  Of  the  Law  of  God. 

ing  even  such  as  fear  him  to  walk  in  darkness,  and 
to  have  no  light ;  yet  are  they  never  destitute  of  the 
J*  seed  of  God,  and  life  »  of  faith,  that  love  of  Christ 
and  the  brethren,  thai  sincerity  of  heart,  and  con- 
science of  duty,  uot  of  which,  by  the  operation  of 
the  Spirit,  this  assurance  may  in  due  time  be  t 
revived ;  and  by  the  which,  in  the  mean  time,  they 
are  n  preserved  from  utter  despair. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

OF    THE    LAW    OF    GOD. 

1.  God  gave  to  Adam  a  law  of  universal  obedi- 
ence, a  written  in  his  heart,  and  a  particular  pre* 
cept  of  not  eating  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  know- 
ledge of  good  and  evil ;  by  which  he  bound  him, 
and  all  his  posterity,  to  personal,  entire,  exact  and 
perpetual  b  obedience  ;  promised  life  upon  the 
fulfilling,  and  c  threatened  death  upon  the  breach 
of  it,  and  indued  him  with  power  and  ability  to 
keep  it. 

2.  The  same  law  that  was  first  written  in  the 
heart  of  man,  d  continued  to  be  a  perfect  rule  of 
righteousness  after  the  fall,  and  delivered  by  God 
upon  Mount  Sinai,  in  e  ten  commandments,  and 
written  in  two  tables,  the  four  first  containing  our 


r  1  John  Hi.  9.         s  Luke  xxii.  32.         t  Psalm  xlii.  5, 

11         u  Lamentations  iii.  26 — 31.        a  Genesis  i.  27.  Ec- 

.  clesiastes  vii.   29.         b  Romans  x.  5.         c  Galatians  iii. 

%o,  12.        d  Romans  ii,  14,  15.        e  Deuteronomy  X*  4. 


Gf  the  Law  of  God.  49 

duty  towards  God,  and   the  other  six  our  duty  to 
man. 

3.  Besides  this  law,  commonly  called  moral,  God 
was  pleased  to  give  lo  the  people  of  Israel  cere- 
monial laws,  containing  several  typical  ordinances, 
partly  of  worship,  f  prefiguring  Christ,  his  graces, 
actions,  sufferings  and  benefits  ;  and  partly  holding 
forth  divers  instructions  s  of  moral  duties,  all 
which  ceremonial  laws  being  appointed  only  to  the 
time  of  reformation,  are,  by  Jesus  Christ,  the  true 
Messiah,  and  only  Law-giver,  who  was  furnished 
with  power  from  the  Father  for  that  end,  h  abro- 
gated and  taken  away. 

4.  To  them  also  he  gave  sundry  judicial  laws, 
which  expired  together  with  the  state  of  that 
people,  not  obliging  any  now  by  virtue  of  that  in- 
stitution ;  their  general  J  equity  only  being  of  moral 
use. 

5.  The  moral  law  doth  for  ever  bind  all,  k  as  well 
justified  persons' as  others,  to  the  obedience  there- 
of, and  that  not  only  in  regard  of  the  matter  con- 
tained in  it,  but  also  in  respect  of  the*  authority  of 
God  the  Creator  who  gave  it ;  neither  doth  Christ 
in  the  gospel  any  way  dissolve,  m  but  much 
strengthen  this  obligation. 

6.  Although  true  believers  be  not  under  the  law, 
as  a  covenant  of  works,  n  to  be  thereby  justified  or 
condemned,  yet  it  is  of  great  use  to  them,  as  well 


/  Hebrews  x.  I.  Colossians  ii.  17.  g  1  Corinthians  v. 
7.  h  Colossians  ii.  14,  16,  17.  Ephesians  ii.  14,  16. 
j  1  Corinthians  ix.  8,  9,  10.  k  Romans  xiii.  8,  9,  10. 
James  ii.  8,  10,  11,  12.  I  James  ii.  10,  13.  m  Matthew 
v.  17 — 19.  Komans  hi.  31.  n  Romans  vi.  14.  feaTatians 
ii,  16.  Romans  viii,  1.  and  x.  4. 
E 


50  Of  the  Law  of  God. 

as  to  others,  in  that,  as  a  rule  of  life,  informing 
them  of  the  will  of  God  and  their  duty,  it  directs 
and  binds  them  to  walk  accordingly  ;  °  discover- 
ing albo  the  sinful  pollutions  of  their  natures,  hearts 
and  lives,  so  as  examining  themselves  thereby, 
ti:?y  may  come  to  further  conviction  of,  humilia- 
tion for,  and  hatred  against  sin  ;  together  with  a 
clearer  sight  of  the  need  they  have  of  Christ,  and 
the  perfection  of  his  obedience :  it  is  likewise  of 
use  to  the  regenerate,  to  restrain  their  corruptions, 
in  that  it  forbids  sin  ;  and  the  threatenings  of  it 
serve  to  show  what  even  their  sins  deserve,  and 
what  afflictions  in  this  life  they  may  expect  for 
them,  although  freed  from  the  curse  and  unallay- 
ed  rigour  thereof.  These  promises  of  it  likewise 
show  that  God's  approbation  of  obedience,  and 
what  blessings  they  may  expect  upon  the  perform- 
ance thereof,  though  not  as  due  to  them  by  the  law 
as  a  covenant  of  works  ;  so  as  man's  doing  good, 
and  refraining  from  evil,  because  the  law  encour- 
ageth  to  the  one,  and  deterreth  from  the  other,  is 
no  evidence  of  his  being  p  under  the  law,  and  not 
under  grace. 

7.  Neither  are  the  forementioned  uses  of  the  law 
1  contrary  to  the  grace  of  the  Gospel,  but  do  sweet- 
ly comply  with  it,  the  Spirit  of  Christ  subduing  r 
and  enabling  the  will  of  man  to  da  that  freely  and 
cheerfully,  which  the  will  of  God,  revealed  in  the 
law,  requireth  to  be  done. 


o  Romans  iii.  20.  and  vii.  7,  Sec.  p  Romans  vi.  12 — 
14.  1  Peter  iii.  8—13.  q  Galatians  iii.  21.  r  Ezekiel 
xxxvii.  21. 


Of  the  Gospel,  &c.  5 1 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OF  THE  GOSPEL,  AND  OF  THE  EXTENT  OF  THE 
GRACE  THEREOF. 

1.  The  covenant  of  works  being  broken  by  sini 
and  made  unprofitable  unto  life,  God  was  pleased 
to  give  forth  the  promise  of  Christ,  *  the  seed  of 
the  woman,  as  the  means  of  calling  the  elect,  and 
begetting  in  them  faith  and  repentance ;  in  this 
promise,  the  b  Gospel,  as  to  the  substance  of  it, 
was  revealed,  and  therein  effectual,  for  the  conver- 
sion and  salvation  of  sinners. 

2.  This  promise  of  Christ;  and  salvation  by  him, 
is  revealed  only  by  c  the  word  of  God  ;  nei'her  do 
the  works  of  creation,  or  providence,  with  the  light 
of  nature,  d  make  discovery  of  Christ,  or  of  grace 
by  him,  so  much  as  in  a  general  or  obscure  way ; 
much  less,  that  men  destitute  of  the  revelation  of 
him  by  the  promise,  or  gospel, «  should  be  enabled 
thereby  to  attain  saving  faith,  or  repentance. 

3.  The  revelation  of  the  gospel  unto  sinners, 
made  in  divers  times,  and  by  sundry  parts,  with  the 
addition  of  promises,  and  precepts,  for  the  obedi- 
ence required  therein,  as  to  the  nations,  and  per- 
sons, to  whom  it  is  granted,  is  merely  of  the  f  sov- 
ereign will  and  good  pleasure  of  God,  not  being 
annexed  by  virtue  of  any  promise,  to  the  due  im- 


a  Genesis  iii.  15.  b  Revelations  xiii.  8.  c  Romans 
i.  17.  d  Romans  x.  14,  15,  17.  e  Proverbs  xxix.  18. 
Tsaiah  xxv.  7.  and  lx.  2,  3.  f  Psalm  cxlvii.  20.  Acts 
ivi.  7. 


5  2  Of  Christian  Liberty]  &c. 

provement  of  men's  natural  abilities,  by  virtue  of 
common  light  received  without  it ;  which  none 
ever  did  s  make,  or  can  so  do  :  and  therefore  in  ail 
ages  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  has  been  granted 
unto  persons  and  nations,  as  to  the  extending  or 
limiting  of  it,  in  great  variety,  according  to  the 
counsel  of  the  will  of  God. 

4.  Although  the  gospel  be  the  only  outward 
means  of  revealing  Christ,  and  saving  grace,  and 
is,  as  such,  abundantly  sufficient  thereunto;  yet 
that  men,  who  are  dead  in  trespasses,  may  be  born 
again,  quickened  or  regenerated,  there  is  more- 
over necessary,  an  effectual  insuperable11  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  upon  the  whole  soul,  for  the  pro- 
ducing in  them  a  new  spiritual  life  ;  without  which 
no  other  means  will  effect  3  their  conversion  unto 
God. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

OF    CHRISTIAN    LIBERTY,     AND     LIBERTY    OF    CON- 
SCIENCE. 

1.  The  liberty  which  Christ  hath  purchased  for 
believers  under  the  gospel,  consists  in  their  free- 
dom from  the  guilt  of  sin,  the  condemning  wrath 
of  God,  and  rigour  and  a  curse  of  the  law,  and  in 
their  being  delivered  from  this  present  evil  b  world, 


g  Romans  i.  18,  &c.  h  Psalm  ex.  3.  1  Corinthians,  ii. 
14.  Kphesians  i.  19,  20.  j  John  vi.  44.  2  Corinthians  iv 
4,6.        a  Galatiatis  iii.  13.         b  Gulatians  i.  4. 


Of  Christian  Liberty ,  bV,  53 

bondage  toc  satan,  and  dominion11  of  sin,  from  the 
e  evil  of  afflictions,  the  fear  and  sting f  of  death,  the 
victory  of  the  grave,  and  s  everlasting  damnation  ; 
as  also  in  their  h  free  access  to  God,  and  their  yield- 
ing obedience  unto  him,  not  out  of  a  slavish  fear,i 
but  a  child-like  love,  and  willing  mind. 

AH  which  were  common  also  to  believers  under 
the  law  k  for  the  substance  of  them  ;  but  under  the 
New  Testament,  the  liberty  of  christians  is  further 
enlarged  in  their  freedom  from  the  yoke  of  the 
ceremonial  law,  to  which  the  Jewish  church  was 
subjected,  and  in  greater  boldness  of  access  to  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  in  fuller  communications  of 
the  i  free  Spirit  of  God,  than  believers  under  the 
law  did  ordinarily  partake  of. 

2.  God  alone  is  m  Lord  of  the  conscience,  and 
hath  left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and  command- 
ments of  menn  which  are  in  any  thing  contrary  to 
his  word,  or  not  contained  in  it.  So  that  to  believe 
such  doctrines,  or  obey  such  commands  out  of 
conscience  °  is  to  betray  true  liberty  of  conscience ; 
and  the  requiring  of  an  p  implicit  faith,  and  abso- 
lute and  blind  obedience,  is  to  destroy  liberty  of 
conscience  and  reason  also. 

S.  They  who,  upon  pretence  of  christian  liberty, 
do  practise  any  sin,  or  cherish  any  sinful  lust,  as 


c  Acts  xxvi.  18.  d  Romans  viii.  3.  e  Romans  viii. 
28.  /  1  Corinthians  xv.  54—57.  g  2  Thessalonians 
i.  10.  h  Komans  viii.  15.  j  Luke  i.  75.  1  John  iv. 
18.  k  Galatians  iii.  9*  14.  I  John  vii.  38,  39.  He- 
brews x.  19—21.  m  James  iv.  12.  Romans  xiv.  4. 
n  Acts  iv.  19.  and  v.  29.  1  Corinthians  vii.  23.  Matthew 
xv.  9.  o  Colossians  ii.  20, 22,  23.  p  1  Corinthians  iii.  5. 
2  Corinthians  i,  24. 

e2 


54  Of  Religious  TVarshifi,  c?c. 

they  do  thereby  pervert  the  main  design  of  the 
grace  of  the  gospel  i  to  their  own  destruction,  so 
they  wholly  destroy  r  the  end  of  christian  liberty ; 
which  is,  that,  being  delivered  out  of  the  hands  of 
all  our  enemies,  we  might  serve  the  Lord  without 
fear,  in  holiness  and  righteousness  before  him,  all 
the  days  of  our  lives. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

OF  RELIGIOUS  WORSHIP  AND  THE  SABBATH  DAY. 

1.  The  light  of  nature  shows  that  there  is  a  God, 
who  hath  lordship  and  sovereignty  overall;  is  just, 
good,  and  doth  good  unto  all  ;  and  is  therefore  to  be 
feared,  loved,  praised,  called  upon,  trusted  in,  and 
served,  with  all  the  heart,  and  all  the  soul, a  and 
with  all  the  might.  But  the  acceptable  way  of 
worshipping  the  true  God,  is  b  instituted  by  him- 
self, and  so  limited  by  his  own  revealed  will,  that 
he  may  not  be  worshipped  according  to  the  imagi- 
nations and  devices  of  men,  or  the  suggestions  of 
satan,  under  any  visible  representations,  or c  any 
other  way,  not  prescribed  in  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
2.  Religious  wor  shift  is  to  be  given  to  God  the 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  and  to  him  d  alone  ; 
not  to  angels,  saints,  or  any  other  e  creatures  ;  and 


q  Romans  vi.  1,  2.  r  Galatians  v.  13,  2  Peter  ii.  18 
— 21.  a  Jeremiah  x.  7.  Mark  xii.  33.  b  Deuterono- 
my xii.  32.  c  Exodus  xx.  4,  5,  6.  d  Matthew  iv.  9, 
10.  John  vi.  23.  Matthew  xxviii.  19.  e  Romans  i.  25. 
Colossians  ii.  18.    Revelations  xix.  10. 


Of  Religious  Worship)  &c.  55 

since  the  fall,  not  without  a  f  Mediator,  nor  in  the 
mediation  of  any  other  but  s  Christ  alone. 

3.  Prayer  and  thankfulness,  being  one  special 
part  of  natural  worship,  is  by  God  required  of h  all 
men.  But  that  it  may  be  accepted,  U  is  to  be  made 
in  the  »  name  of  the  Son,  by  the  help  k  of  the  Spirit, 
according  to  l  his  will ;  with  understanding,  reve- 
rence, humility,  fervency,  faith,  love,  and  perse- 
verance, and,  with  others,  in  a  m  known  tongue. 

4.  Prayer  is  to  be  made  for  things  lawful,  and 
for  all  sorts  of  men  living,  n  or  that  shall  live  here- 
after ;  but  not°  for  the  dead,  nor  for  those  of  whom 
it  may  be  known,  that  they  have  sinned  p  the  sin 
unto  death. 

5.  The  §  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  preaching, 
and  r  hearing  the  word  of  God,  teaching  ami  ad- 
monishing one  another  in  psalms,  hymns,  and  spi- 
ritual songs,  singing  with  grace  in  our  hearts  to  8 
the  Lord ;  as  also  the  administration  c  of  baptism, 
and  u  the  Lord's  supper,  are  all  parts  of  religious 
worship  of  God,  to  be  performed  in  obedience  to 
him,  with  understanding,  faith,  reverence,  and 
godly  fear ;  moreover,  solemn  humiliation,  x  with 
fastings,  and  thanksgiving,  upon  y  special  occa- 
sions, ought  to  be  used  in  a  holy  and  religious 
manner. 


/John  xiv.  6.  gl  Timothy  ii.  5.  h  Psalm  xcv.  1,  7. 
Psalm  lxv.  2.  i  John  xiv.  13,  14.  k  Romans  viii.  26. 
1 1  John  v.  14.  m  1  Corinthians  xiv.  16, 17.  n  1  Timothy  ii. 
1,  2.  2  Samuel  vii.  29.  o  2  Samuel  xii.  21—23.  p  1  John 
r.  16.  q  1  Timothy  iv.  13.  r  2  Timothy  iv.  2.  Luke  viii. 
18.  Ephesians  v.  19.  s  Colossians  iii.  16.  Ephesians  v.  19. 
t  Matthew  xxviii.  19,  70.  u  1  Corinthians  xi.  26.  x  Es- 
ther iv.  16.  Joel  ii.  12.     y  Exodus  xv.  1,  &c.  Psalm  cvii. 


56  Of  Religious  Worshifi^c, 

6.  Neither  prayer,  nor  any  other  part  of  religi- 
ous worship,  is  now,  under  the  gospel,  tied  unto, 
or  made  more  acceptable  by  any  place  in  which  it 
is  z  performed,  or  towards  which  it  is  directed  ;  but 
God  is  to  be  worshipped  every  wherein  spirit,  and 
in  truth ;  as  in  a  private  families  b  daily,  and  c  in 
secret,  each  one  by  himself,  so  more  solemnly  in 
the  public  assemblies,  which  are  not  carelessly,  nor 
wilfully,  to  be  d  neglected  or  forsaken,  when  God 
by  his  word  or  providence  calleth  thereunto. 

7.  As  it  is  of  the  law  of  nature,  that  in  general,  a 
proportion  of  time,  by  God's  appointment  be  set 
apart  for  the  worship  of  God,  so  by  his  word,  in  a 
positive,  moral  and  perpetual  commandment,  bind- 
ing all  men,  in  all  ages,  he  hath  particularly  ap- 
pointed one  day  in  seven  for  a  •  sabbath  to  be  kept 
holy  unto  him,  which  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  to  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  was  the  last 
day  of  the  week  ;  and  from  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  was  changed  into  the  first  day  of  the  week,*' 
Which  is  called  the  Lord's  day  ;  and  is  tobe  con- 
tinued to  the  end  of  the  world,  as  the  Christian 
sabbath  ;  the  observation  of  the  last  day  Of  the  week 
being  abolished. 

8.  The  sabbath  is  then  kept  holy  unto  the  Lord, 
when  men,  after  a  due  preparing  of  their  hearts, 
and  ordering  their  common  affairs  aforehand,  do 
not  only  observe  a  holy  s  rest  all  the  day,  from 
their  own  works,  words  and  thoughts,  about  their 

z  John  iv.  21.  Malachi  i.  11.  1  Timothy  ii.  8.  a  Acts  x. 
2.  b  Matthew  vi.  11.  Psalm  If.  17.  c  Matthew  vi.  6. 
d  Hebrews  x.  25.  Acts  ii.  42.  e  Exodus  xs.  8.  / 1  Co- 
rinthians  xvi.  lj  2.  Acts  xx.  7.  Revelations  i.  10.  g  Isaiah 
lviii.  13.    Nehemiab  xiii.  15,  22- 


Of  Singing  ofPsalms^  Zsfc.  57 

worldly  employment  and  recreations,  but  also  are 
taken  up  the  whole  time  in  the  public  and  private 
exercises  of  his  worship  and  in  the  duties  h  of  ne- 
cessity and  mercy. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

OF  SINGING  OF  PSALMS,  &C 

We  believe  that  a  singing  the  praises  of  God,  is 
a  holy  ordinance  of  Christ,  and  not  a  part  of  natu- 
ral religion,  or  a  moral  duty  only ;  but  that  it  is 
brought  under  divine  institution,  it  being  enjoined 
on  the  churches  of  Christ  to  sing  psalms,  hymns, 
and  spiritual  songs ;  and  that  the  whole  church  in 
their  public  assemblies  (as  well  as  private  Chris- 
tians) ought  to  b  sing  God's  praises  according  to 
the  best  light  they  have  received.  Moreover,  it 
was  practised  in  the  great  representative  church, 
by  c  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  his  disciples, 
after  he  had  instituted  and  celebrated  the  sacred 
ordinance  of  his  holy  supper,  as  a  commemorative 
token  of  redeeming  love. 

h  Matthew  xii.  1 — 13.  a  Acts  xvi.  25.  Ephesians  v.  19. 
Colossians  iii.  16.  b  Hebrews  ii,  12.  James  v.  13.  c  Mat- 
thew xx vi.  30.  Mark  xiv.  26. 


58  Of  Lawful  Oaths  and  Voivs. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

OF  LAWFUL  OATHS  AND  VOWS. 

1.  A  lawful  oath  is  a  part  of  religious  worship, 
a  wherein  the  person  swearing  in  truth,  righteous- 
ness and  judgment j  solemnly  calleth  God  to  witness 
what  he  sweareth  ;  b  and  to  judge  him  according  to 
the  truth  or  falseness  thereof. 

2.  The  name  of  God  only  is  that  by  which  men 
ought  to  swear  ;  and  therein  it  is  to  be  used  with 
all  holy  fea?  and  reverence ;  therefore  to  swear 
vainly  or  rashly  by  thai  glorious  and  dreadful  name, 
or  to  swear  a:  all  by  any  other  thing,  is  sinful  and 
to  be  c  abhorred  ;  ye1  as  in  matter  of  weight  and  mo- 
ment, for  confirmation  of  truth,  d  and  ending  all 
strife,  an  oath  is  warranted  by  the  word  of  God; 
so  a  lawfui  oa'u  bein^  imposed,  e  by  lawful  autho- 
rity, in  sjiqh  matters  ought  to  be  taken. 

3.  Whosoever  taketh  an  oath,  warranted  by  the 
wo<d  ol  God,  ought  duly  to  consider,  the  weighti- 
pess  of  so  solemn  an  act,  and  therein  to  avouch  no- 
thi  but  what  ht  knoweth  to  be  the  truth  ;  for  that 
by  aft,  false,  and  vain  oaths,  the  f  Lord  is  pro- 
v<  and  for  them  this  land  mourns. 

i  oath  is  to  be  taken  hi  the  plain  and  s  com- 
•c  of  the  words,  without  equivocation,  or 
reservation'. 

a'.  -•-   xs.  7.    Deuteronomy  x.  '.20.    Jeremiah  iv.  2. 

6  2  Ch  i  i  vi.  22,  23.      c  Matthew  v.  34— 37-   James  v. 

12.  tfHel  -ws  vi.  16.  2  Corinthians  i.  23.  e  Nehemiah 
xiii.  25,  /Leviticus  xix.  12,  Jeremiah  xxiii.  10.  5' "Psalm 
xxiv.  4. 


Of  the  Civil  Magistrate.  59 

5.  A  vow,  which  is  not  to  be  made  to  any  crea- 
ture, but  to  God  alone,  »>  is  to  be  made  and  per- 
formed with  all  religious  care  and  faithfulness :  but 
popish  monastical  vows,1  of  perpetual  single  life, 
professed  k  poverty,  and  regular  obedience,  are  so 
far  from  being  degrees  of  higher  perfection,  that 
they  are  superstitious, 1  and  sinful  snares,  in  which 
no  christian  may  entangle  himself. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

OF  THE  CIVIL  MAGISTRATE.        ■ 

1.  Godd  the  supreme  Lord,  and  king  of  all  the 
world,  hath  ordained  civil a  magistrates  to  be  under 
him  over  the  people,  for  his  own  glory,  and  the 

.public  good ;  and  to  this  end  hath  armed  them  with 
the  power  of  the  sword,  for  defence  and  encourage- 
ment of  them  that  do  good,  and  for  the  punishment 
of  evil  doers. 

2.  It  is  lawful  for  christians  to  accept  and  exe- 
cute the  office  of  a  magistrate,  when  called  there- 
unto ;  in  the  management  whereof,  as  they  ought 
especially  to  maintain  b  justice,  and  peace,  accord- 
ing to  the  wholesome  laws  of  each  kingdom  and 
commonwealth  ;  so  for  that  end  they  may  lawfully 
now  under  the  New  Testament  c  wage  war  upon 
just  and  necessary  occasions. 

3.  Civil  magistrates  being  set  up  by  God,  for  the 

h  Psalm  lxxvi.  11.  Genesis  xxviii.  20 — 22.  i  1  Corin- 
thians vii.  2,  9.  k -Ephesians  iv.  28.  fMatthewxix.il. 
a  Romans  xiii.  1—4.  b  2  Samuel  xxiii.  3.  Psalm  Ixxxii. 
3,4.    cLukeiii.  14. 


60  Of  Marriage. 

ends  aforesaid,  subjection  in  all  lawful  things  com- 
manded by  them,  ought  to  be  yielded  by  us  in  the 
Lord,  not  only  for  wrath d  but  for  conscience  sake; 
and  we  ought  to  make  supplications  and  prayers 
for  kings,  and  all  that  are  in  authority, e  that  under 
them  we  may  live  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life,  in  all 
godliness  and  honesty. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


OF  MARRIAGE. 


1.  Marriage  is  to  be  between  one  man  and  one 
woman ;  a  neither  is  it  lawful  for  any  man  to  have 
more  than  one  wife,  nor  for  any  woman  to  have 
more  than  one  husband  at  the  same  time. 

2.  Marriage  was  ordained  for  the  mutual  helpb 
of  husband  and  wife,  c  for  the  increase  of  mankind 
with  a  legitimate  issue,  and  for  d  preventing  of  un- 
cleanness. 

3.  It  is  lawful  for  e  all  sorts  of  people  to  marry ^ 
who  are  able  with  judgment  to  give  their  consent ; 
yet  it  is  the  duty  of  Christians  f  to  marry  in  the 
Lord;  and  therefore  such  as  profess  the  true  religion 
should  not  marry  with  infidels,  s  or  idolaters;  nei- 
ther should  such  as  are  godly  be  unequally  yoked, 
by  marrying  with  such  as  are  wicked  in  their  life, 
or  maintain  damnable  heresy. 


rf Romarvs  xiii.  5,  6,  7.  1  Peter  ii.  17.  e  1  Timothy  ii.  1, 
2.  a  Genesis  ii.  24.  Malachi  ii.  15.  Matthew  xix.  5,  6. 
b  Genesis  ii.  18.  c  Genesis  i.  28.  d  1  Corinthians  vii.  2,  9. 
e  Hebrews  xiii.  4.  1  Timothy  iv.  3.  / 1  Corinthians  vii.  39. 
g  Nehemiah  xiii.  25—27. 


0/ the  Church.  61 

4.  Marriage  ought  not  to  be  within  the  degrees 
of  consanguinity  h  or  affinity,  forbidden  in  the  word ; 
nor  can  such  incestuous  marriage  ever  be  made 
lawful,  by  any  law  of  man  or  consent  of  parties,  L  so 
as  those  persons  may  live  together  as  man  and  wife. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


OF  THE  CHURCH. 


1.  The  catholic  or  universal  Church,  which, 
with  respect  to  the  internal  work  of  the  Spirit  and 
truth  of  grace,  may  be  called  invisible,  consists  of 
the  whole  a  number  of  the  elect,  that  have  been, 
are,  or  shall  be  gathered  into  one,  under  Christ, 
the  head  thereof  j  and  is  the  spouse,  the  body,  the 
fulness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all. 

2.  All  persons,  throughout  the  world,  professing 
the  faith  of  the  Gospei,  and  obedience  unto  God  by 
Christ,  according  unto  it,  not  destroying  their  own 
profession  by  any  errors,  everting  the  foundation, 
or  unholiness  of  eonversation, b  are  and  may  be  call- 
ed visible  saints;  9  and  of  such  ought  all  particular 
congregations  to  be  constituted. 

3.  The  purest  churches  under  heaven  are  subject 
d  to  mixture  and  error;  and  some  have  so  degene- 
rated as  to  become  c  no  churches  of  Christ,  but 


h  Leviticus  xviii.  i  Mark  vi.  18  1  Corinthians  v.  1. 
a  Hebrews  xii  23.  Coiossians  i.  18  Ephesians  i.  10,  32,  23. 
and  v.  23,  27,  32.  I,  1  Corinthians  i.  2.  Acfs  si,  26.  c  Ro- 
mans i.  7.  Bphesiami.  20—22.  d\  Corinthians  v.  Revela- 
tions ii.  and  iii.  t  Revelations  xviii.  2.  2  Thessalonians 
ii.  11,  12. 

F 


62  Of  the  Church. 

synagogues  of  satan;  nevertheless  Christ  always 
hath  had,  and  ever  shall  have,  a  f  kingdom  in  this 
world,  to  the  end  thereof,  of  such  as  believe  in 
him,  and  make  profession  of  his  name. 

4.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  head  of  the 
church,  in  whom  by  the  appointment  of  the  Father, 
s  all  power  for  the  calling,  institution,  order,  or  go- 
vernment of  the  church,  is  invested  in  a  supreme 
and  sovereign  manner,  neither  can  the  pope  of 
Rome  in  any  sense  be  head  thereof,  but  is  h  that 
Antichrist,  that  man  of  sin,  and  son  of  perdition, 
thatexalteth  himself  in  the  church  against  Christ, 
and  all  that  is  called  God ;  whom  the  Lord  shall 
destroy  with  the  brightness  of  his  coming. 

5.  In  the  execution  of  this  power  wherewith  he 
is  so  intrusted,  the  Lord  Jesus  calleth  out  of  the 
world  unto  himself,  through  the  ministry  of  his 
word,  by  his  Spirit,1  those  that  are  given  unto  him, 
by  his  Father,  that  they  may  walk  before  him  in  all 
the  k  ways  of  obedience,  which  he  prescribeth  to 
them  in  his  word.  Those  thus  called,  he  com- 
mandeth  to  walk  together  in  particular  socieiies, 
or  J  churches,  for  their  mutual  edification,  and  the 
due  performance  of  that  public  worship,  which  he 
requireth  of  them  in  the  world. 

6.  The  members  of  these  churches  are  m  saints 
by  calling,  visibly  manifesting  and  evidencing  in 
and  by  their  profession  and  walking,  their  obedi- 
ence unto  that  call  of  Christ ;  and  do  willingly  coa- 


f  Matthew  xvi.  18.  Psalm  lxxii.  17.  and  cii.  28.  Revela- 
tions xii.  17.  g  Colossians  i.  18.  Matthew  xxviii.  18 — 20. 
Ephesians  iv.  11,  12.  h  2  Thessalcnians  ii.  2 — 9.  jjqhn 
X.  16.  and  xii.  32.  k  Matthew  xxviii.  20.  I  Matthew  ^iviii- 
15 — 20.     m  Romans  i.  7.  1  Corinthians  i.  2. 


Of  the  Church.  63 

sent  to  walk  together  according  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  Christ,  giving  up  themselves  to  the  Lord 
and  to  one  another,  by  the  will  of  God, »  in  pro- 
fessed subjection  to  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

f .  To  each  of  these  churches  thus  gathered  ac- 
cording to  his  mind,  declared  in  his  word,  he  hath 
given  all  that  •  power  and  authority,  which  is  any 
way  needful  for  their  carrying  on  that  order  in  wor- 
ship and  discipline,  which  he  hath  instituted  for 
them  to  observe^  with  commands  and  rules,  for  the 
due  and  right  exerting  and  executing  that  power. 

8.  A  particular  church  gathered,  and  complete*? 
ly  organized  according  to  the  mind  of  Christ,  con- 
sists of  officers  and  members:  and  the  officers  ap- 
pointed by  Christ  to  be  chosen  and  set  apart  by  the 
church,  so  called  and  gathered,  for  the  peculiar  ad- 
ministration of  ordinances,  and  execution  of  power, 
or  duty,  which  he  intrusts  them  with,  or  calls  them 
to,  to  be  continued  to  the  end  of  the  world,  are  p 
bishops,  or  elders,  and  deacons. 

9.  The  way  appointed  by  Christ  for  the  calling 
of  any  person,  fitted  and  gifted  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
unto  the  office  of  bishop,  or  elder,  in  a  church,  is, 
that  he  be  chosen  thereunto  by  the  common  i  suf- 
frage of  the  church  itself;  and  solemnly  set  apart 
by  fasting  and  prayer,  with  imposition  of  hands  of 
the  r  eldership  of  the  church,  if  there  be  any  before 
constituted  therein :  and  of  a  deacon  s  that  he  be 


n  Acts  ii.  41,  42.  and  v.  13,  14.  2  Corinthians  ix.  13. 
©Matthew  xviii.  17,  18.  1  Corinthians  v.  4,  5,  13.  2  Corin- 
thians ii.  6—8.  p  Acts  xx.  17,  28.  Philippians  i.  1. 
q  Acts  xiv.  23.  See  the  Original.  r  1  Timothy  iv;  14. 
*  Acts  vi.  3,  5,  6. 


G4  Of  the  Church. 

ch     en  by  the  like  suffrage,  and  set  apart  by  prayer, 
and  the  like  imposition  of  hands. 

10.  The  work  of  pastors  being  constantly  to  at- 
tend the  service  of  Christ,  in  his  churches,  in  the 
ministry  of  the  word,  and  prayer  l  with  watching 
for  their  souls,  as  they  that  must  give  an  account 
to  him  ;  it  is  incumbent  on  the  churches  to  whom 
they  minister,  not  only  to  give  them  all  4ue  respect, 
u  but  also  to  communicate  to  them  of  all  their 
good  things,  according  to  their  ability,  so  as  they 
may  have  a  comfortable  supply,  without  being 
themselves x  entangled  in  secular  affairs;  and  may 
also  be  capable  of  exercising  r  hospitality  towards 
others ;  and  this  is  required  by  the  z  law  of  nature, 
and  by  the  express  order  of  our  Lord  Jesus,  who 
hath  ordained,  that  they  that  preach  tlae  Gospel, 
should  live  of  the  Gospel. 

1 1.  Although  it  be  incumbent  on  the  bishops  or 
pastors  of  the  churches,  to  be  instant  in  preaching 
the  word,  by  way  of  office,  yet  the  work  of  preach- 
ing the  word  is  not  so  peculiarly  confined  to  them, 
but  that  others  also  a  gifted,  and  fitted  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  for  it,  and  approved  and  called  by  the 
church,  may  and  ought  to  perform  it. 

12.  As  all  believers  are  bound  to  join  them- 
selves to  particular  churches,  when  and  where  they 
have  opportunity  so  to  do ;  so  all  that  are  admitted 
unto  the  privileges  of  a  church,  are  also  b  under 


t  Acts  vi.  4.  Hebrews  xiii.  17.  wl  Timothy  v.  17,  18. 
Galatians  vi.  6,  7.  x2  Timothy  ii.  4.  y  1  Timothy  iii  2. 
z  1  Corinthians  ix.  6, 14.  a  Acts  si.  19—21.  1  Peter  iv. 
10,  11.  b  1  Thessalonians  v.  14.  2  Thessalonians  iii.  6, 14, 
15. 


Of  the  Church.  65 

the  censures  and  government  thereof,  according  to 
the  rule  of  Christ. 

IS.  No  church-members,  upon  any  offence  taken 
by  them,  having  performed  their  duty  required  of 
them  towards  the  person  they  are  offended  at,  ought 
to  disturb  church  order,  or  absent  themselves  from 
the  assemblies  of  the  church,  or  administration  of 
any  ordinance,  upon  the  account  of  such  offence  at 
any  of  their  fellow  members,  but  to  wait  upon 
Christ,  c  in  further  proceeding  of  the  church. 

14.  As  each  church,  and  all  the  members  of  it, 
are  bound  to  d  pray  continually,  for  the  good  and 
prosperity  of  all  the  churches  of  Christ,  in  all 
places,  and  upon  all  occasions  to  further  it,  every 
one  within  the  bounds  of  their  places  and  callings, 
in  the  exercise  of  their  gifts  arid  graces ;  so  the 
churches,  when  planted  by  the  providence  Of  God, 

-so  as  they  may  enjoy  opportunity  and  advantage  for 
it,  ought  to  hold  e  Communion  among  themselves, 
for  their  peace,  increase  of  iove,  and  mutual  edifica- 
tion. 

15.  Cases  of  difficulty  or  differences,  either  in 
point  of  doctrine  or  administration  ;  wherein  either 
the  churches  in  general  are  concerned,  or  any  one 
church,  in  their  peace,  union,  and  edification  ;  or 
any  member  or  members  of  any  church  are  injur- 
ed, in  or  by  any  proceedings  in  censures  not  agree- 
able to  truth  and  order  ;  it  is  according  to  the  mind 
of  Christ,  that  many  churches  holding*  communion 
together,  do  by  their  messing-ers  meet  to  consider 
*  and  give  their  advice  in  or  about  the  matter  in 


c  Matthew  xviii.  15 — 17.  P2phesiuns  w.  2,  3,  d  Ephe- 
sians  vi.  IS.  Psalm  exxii.  6.  e  Romans  xvi.  1,  2.  3  John 
8-10.    /Acts  xv.  2,  4,  6,  22,  23,  25. 


66  ,    Of  the  Communion  of  Saints. 

difference,  lo  be  reported  to  all  the  churches  con- 
cerned ;  howbeit  these  messengers  assembled,  are 
not  intrusted  with  any  church  power,  properly  so 
called  ;  or  with  any  jurisdiction  over  the  churches 
themselves,  to  exercise  any  censures  either  over 
any  churches,  or  persons ;  or  g  to  impose  their  de- 
termination on  the  chuiches  or  officers. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

OF    THE    COMMUNION    OF   SAINTS. 

1.  All  saints  that  are  united  to  Jesus  Christ, 
their  head,  by  his  Spirit,  and  faith,  although  they 
are  not  made  thereby  one  person  with  him,  have 
a  fellowship  in  his  graces,  sufferings,  death,  resur- 
rection and  glory;  and  being  united  to  one  another 
in  love,  they  b  have  communion  in  each  others 
gifts  and  graces,  and  are  obliged  to  the  performance 
of  such  duties,  public  and  private,  in  an  orderly 
way,c  as  to  conduce  to  their  mutual  good,  both  in 
the  inward  and  outward  man. 

Saints  by  profession,  are  bound  to  maintain  a 
holy  fellowship  and  communion  in  the  worship  of 
God,  and  in  pei forming  euch  other  spiritual  ser- 
vices, d  as  tend  to  their  mutual  edification  ;  as  also 


g  2  Corinthians  i.  24.  1  John  iv.  1         a  1  John  i.  3.  John 
i.  16.  Philippians  iii.  10.  Romans  vi.  5,  6  If  Epbesians 

iv.  15,  16.  1  Corinthians  xiir  7.  and  iii.  21 — 23.  c  1  Thes- 
salonians  v.  11.  14.  Romans  i.  12.  1  John  iii.  17,  18.  Gala- 
tians  vi.  10.        d  Hebrews  x.  24,  25.  and  nl  1%  13. 


Of  Bafitism  and  the  Lord* s  Su/ifier.  67 

in  relieving  each  other  in  e  outward  things,  accord* 
ing  to  their  several  abilities,  and  necessities ;  which 
communion,  according  to  the  rule  of  the  Gospel, 
though  especially  to  be  exercised  by  them,  in  the 
relations  wherein  they  stand,  whether  in  f  families 
or  s  churches,  yet  as  God  offereth  opportunity,  is 
to  be  extended  to  all  the  household  of  faith,  even 
all  those  who  in  every  place  call  upon  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus ;  nevertheless  their  communion 
one  with  another  as  saints,  doth  not  take  away,  or 
h  infringe  the  title  or  property  which  each  man 
hath  in  his  goods  and  possessions. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

OF    BAPTISM    AND    THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 

1.  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  are  ordi- 
nances of  positive  and  sovereign  institution,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  only  Law  giver,  to 
be  continued  in  his  church  a  to  the  end  of  the 
world. 

2.  These  holy  appointments  are  to  be  adminis- 
tered by  those  only,  who  are  qualified,  and  there- 
unto called  according  b  to  the  commission  of  Christ. 


e  Acts  xi.  29,  30.  /Ephesians  vi.  4.  g- 1  Corinthians 
xii.  14, 27.  h  Acts  v  4.  Ephesians  iv.  28.  a  Matthew 
xxviii  19,  20.  1  Corinthians  xi.  26,  b  Matthew  xxviii. 
19.  1  Corinthians  iv.  1. 


6.8  Of  Bafitisvu 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

OF    BAPTISM. 

J.  Baptism  is  an  ordinance  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, ordained  by  Jesus  Christ,  to  be  unto  the 
party  baptised,  a  sign  of  his  fellowship  with  him  in 
his  death  *  and  resurrection  ;  of  his  being  engraft- 
ed into  him  ;  of  b  remission  of  sins;  and  of  his  c 
giving  up  unto  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  live 
and  walk  in  newness  of  life. 

2.  Those  who  do  actually  profess  d  repentance 
towards  God,  faith  in,  and  obedience  to  our  Lord 
Jesus,  are  the  only  proper  subjects  of  this  ordi- 
nance. 

1  3.  The  outward  element,  to  be  used  in  this  or- 
dinance, e  is  water,  wherein  the  party  is  to  be  bap- 
tised, in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son, 
and  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

4.  Immersion,  or  dipping  of  the  person  f  in 
water,  is  necessary  to  the  due  administration  of  this 
ordinance. 


a  Romans  vi.  3,  4,  5v  Colossians  ii.  12.  Galatians  Hi.  27. 
b  Mark  i.  4.  Acts  xxvi.  16.  c  Romans  vi.  4.  d  Mark 
xvi.  16.  Acts  viii.  37,  38.  e  Matthew  xxviii.  19,  20.  Acts 
viii.  38.       /Matthew  iii.  16.  John  iii.  23. 


Of  Laying  on  of  Hands,  69 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

OP    LAYING    ON    OF    HANDS. 

1.  We  believe  that  a  laying  on  of  hands,  with 
prayer,  upon  baptised  believers,  as  such,  is  an  or- 
dinance of  Christ,  and  ought  to  be  submitted  unto 
by  all  such  persons  that  are  admitted  to  partake  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  that  the  end  of  this  ordi- 
nance is  not  for  the  extraordinary  ,<itts  of  the  Spirit, 
but  for  b  a  farther  reception  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
promise,  or  for  the  addition  of  the  graces  ot  the 
Spirit,  and  the  influences  thereof;  to  confirm, 
strengthen,  and  comfort  them  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  it 
being  ratified  and  established  by  the  c  extraordina- 
ry gifts  of  the  Spirit  in  the  primitive  times,  to  ai;ide 
in  the  church  as  meeting  together  on  the  first  day 
of  the  week  was,  Acts  ii.  1.  that  being  the  day  of 
worship,  or  christian  sabbath,  under  the  Gospel ; 
and  as  preaching  the  word  was,  Acts  x.  44.  and  as 
baptism  was,  Matthew  iii.  16.  and  prayer  was, 
Acts  iv.  31.  and  singing  psalms,  See.  was,  Actsxvi. 
25,  26.  so  this  of  laying  on  of  hands  was,  Acts  viii. 
and  xix.  for  as  the  whole  Gospel  was  confirmed 
by  d  signs  and  wonders,  and  divers  miracles  and 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  general,  so  was  every 
ordinance  in  like  manner  confirmed  in  particular. 

a  Hebrew's  v.  12.  and  vi.  1,  2.  Acts  viii.  17,  18.  and  xix.  6. 
b  Ephesians  i.  13,  14.  c  Acts  viii.  7.  and  xix.  6.  d  He- 
brews ii.  3,  4. 


-70  Of  the  Lord's  Sufificr. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

OF    THE    LORD'S    SUPPER. 

1.  The  Supper  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  was  institu- 
ted by  him,  the  same  night  wherein  he  was  betray- 
ed, to  be  observed  in  his  churches  unto  the  end  of 
the  world,  for  the  perpetual  remembrance,  and 
showing  forth  the  sacrifice  of  himself  in  his  death, 
a  confirmation  of  the  faith  of  believers  in  all  the 
benefits  thereof,  their  spiritual  nourishment  and 
growth  in  him,  their  further  engagement  in  and  to 
all  duties  which  they  owe  unto  him  ;  b  and  to  be  a 
bond  and  pledge  of  their  communion  with  him,  and 
with  each  other. 

2.  In  this  ordinance,  Christ  is  not  offered  up  to 
his  Father,  nor  any  real  sacrifice  made  at  all  for 
remission  of  sin,  of  the  quick  or  dead,  but  only  a 
memorial  of  that  c  one  offering  up  of  himself,  by 
himself,  upon  the  cross,  once  for  all ;  and  a  spirit- 
ual oblation  of  all d  possible  praise  unto  God  for 
the  same.  So  that  the  fiofiish  sacrifice  of  the  mass, 
as  they  call  it,  is  most  abominable,  injurious  to 
Christ's  own  only  sacrifice,  the  alone  propitiation 
for  all  the  sins  of  the  elect. 

3.  The  Lord  Jesus  hath  in  this  ordinance,  ap- 
pointed his  ministers  to  pray,  and  bless  the  ele- 
ments of  bread  and  wine,  and  thereby  to  set  them 
apart  from  a  common  to  a  holy  use,  and  to  take 

a  1  Corinthians  xi.  23 — 26.  b  1  Corinthians  x.  16,  17. 
21.  c  Hebrews  ix.  25,  26,  28.  d  1  Corinthians  xi.  24. 
Matthew  xxvi.  26,27. 


Of  the  Lord's  Sufificr.  71 

and  brake  the  bread  ;  to  take  the  cup,  e  and.  they 
communicating  also  themselves,  to  give  both  to  the 
communicants. 

4.  The  denial  of  the  cup  to  the  people,  worship- 
ing the  elements,  the  lifting  them  up  or  carrying 
them  about  for  adoration,  and  reserving  them  for 
any  pretended  religious  use, f  are  all  contrary  to  the 
nature  of  this  ordinance,  and  to  the  institution  of 
Christ. 

5.  The  outward  elements  in  this  ordinance,  duly 
set  apart  to  the  uses  ordained  by  Christ,  have  such 
relation  to  him  crucified,  as  that  truly,  although  in 
terms  used  figuratively,  they  are  sometimes  called 
by  the  name  of  the  things  they  represent,  to  wit, 
the  s  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  albeit  in  substance 
and  nature,  they  still  remain  truly  and  only  h  bread 
and  wine,  as  they  were  before. 

6.  The  doctrine  which  maintains  a  change  of 
the  substance  of  bread  and  wine,  into  the  substance 
of  Christ's  body  and  blood,  commonly  called  tran- 
substantiation,  by  consecration  of  a  priest,  or  by 
any  other  way,  is  repugnant  not  to  scripture  »  alone, 
but  even  to  common  sense  and  reason,  overthrow- 
eth  the  k  nature  of  the  ordinance,  and  hath  been, 
and  is  the  cause  of  manifold  superstitions,  yea,  of 
gross  idolatries. 

7.  Worthy  receivers  outwardly  partaking  of  the 
visible  elements  in  this  ordinance,  do  then  also  in- 
wardly, by  faith  really  and  indeed,  yet  not  carnally 
and   corporally,  but  spiritually  receive,  and  feed 


e  1  Corinthians  xi.  23—26,  &c.  /Matthew  xxvi.  26 — 
28.  and  xv.  9.  Exodus  xx.  4,  5.  g  X  Corinthians  xi.  27. 
h  I  Corinthians,  xi.  26.  28.  i  Acts  iii.  21.  Luke  xxiv.  6. 
39.        k  1  Corinthians  xi.  24, 25. 


"72        Of  the  State  of  Man  after  I)  eathy  Isfc, 

upon  Christ  crucified  l  and  all  ihe  benefits  of  his 
death  :  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  being  then  not 
•corporally,  or  carnally,  but  spiritually  present  to 
the  faith  of  believers  in  that  ordinance,  as  the  ele- 
ments themselves  are  to  their  outward  senses. 

8.  All  ignorant  and  ungodly  persons,  as  they  are 
unfit  to  enjoy  communion  m  with  Christ,  so  are 
they  unworthy  of  the  Lord's  table,  and  cannot, 
without  great  sin  against  him,  while  they  remain 
such,  partake  of  these  holy  mysteries,  "  or  be  ad- 
mitted thereunto:  yea,  whosoever  shall  receive 
unworthily,  are  guilty  of  the  body  and  blood  of  the 
Lord,  eating  and  drinking  judgment  to  themselves. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

OF  THE  STATE  OF  MAN  AFTER  DEATH,  AND  OF  THE 
RESURRECTION  OF  THE  DEAD. 

1.  The  bodies  of  men  after  death  return  to  dust, 
a  and  see  corruption  ;  but  their  souls,  which  neither 
die  nor  sleep,  having  an  immortal  subsistence,  im- 
mediately b  return  to  God  who  gave  them  :  the 
souls  of  the  righteous  being  then  made  perfect  in 
holiness,  are  received  into  paradise,  where  they 
are  with  Christ,  and  behold  the  face  of  God,  in 
light  and  c   glory,  waiting  for  the  full  redemption 


/ 1  Corinthians  x.  16.  and  xi  23—26.  m  2  Corinthians 
vi.  14,  15  n  1  Corinthians  xi.  29.  Matthew  vii.  6.  a  Ge- 
nesis iii.  19.  Acts  xii  36.  b  Ecclesiastes  xiii.  7.  cLuke 
xxiii.  43.  2  Corinthians  v.  1,  6,  8.  Philippians  i.  23.  He- 
brews xii.  23. 


Of  the  Last  Judgment,  73 

of  their  bodies ;  and  the  souls  of  the  wicked  arc 

mlT  uhe"'  WhCre  they  remain  in  to™ent  and 
utter  darkness  reserved  to  d  the  judgment  of  the 
great  day;  besides  these  two  places,  for  souls  se- 
parated from  their  bodies,  the  scripture  acknow- 
ledgeih  none. 

2.  At  the  last  day,  such  of  the  saints  as  are  found 

deJH  T  I'0'  SlCe?  bUt  bC  C  Cha^ed  !  ™*  *  the 
dead  shall  be  raised  up  with  the  self  same.bodies, 
and  f  none  other;  although  with  different  g  quali- 

for'ever  ^   "^  again  t0  theirW 

rfkrU?  K°dleS  °,f  tbT.UWSt  sha11'  by  lhe  P^'er 
of  Christ,  be  raised  to  dishonour ;  the  bodies  of  the 

rnnf  Y  k,"  -Vl^  unl°  honour>  h  and  be  made 
conformable  to  his  own  glorious  body 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

OF     THE     LAST    JUDGMENT. 

.  j.  God  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will 
judge  the  world  in  righteousness,  by  *  JeIus 
Chnst;  to  whom  all  power  and  judgment  is  J    en 

an'efsrha  nCrb;,n  JW?*7  «*  only  the  apo'state 
an bels  shall  be  judged,  but  likewise  all b  persons 
that  have  lived  upon  the  earth,  shall  appeaS" 

•John  v.  28    00       pk;i:  *  ■  ■'       •      h  Acts  XX1V-   ls- 

John  v  2    'of     a  Vr  PPT  te"  2L        rt  Acts  sv»-  »• 
'^  *7'     6  *  Corinthians  vi.  3.  Jude  6. 


74  Of  the  Last  Judgment. 

the  tribunal  of  Christ,  c  to  give  an  account  of  their 
thoughts,  words  and  deeds,  and  to  receive  according 
to  what  they  have  done  in  the  body,  whether  good 
or  evil. 

2.  The  end  of  God's  appointing  this  day,  is  for 
the  manifestation  of  the  glory  of  his  mercy,  in  the 
eternal  salvation  of  the  elect;  d  and  of  his  justice, 
in  the  eternal  damnation  of  the  reprobate,  who  are 
wicked  and  disobedient ;  for  then  shall  the  righte- 
ous go  into  everlasting  life,  and  receive  that  ful- 
ness of  joy  and  glory,  with  everlasting  reward,  in 
the  presence6  of  the  Lotd:  but  the  wicked  who 
know  not  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ,  shall  be  cast  into  eternal  torments,  andf 
punished  with  everlasting  destruction,  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his 
power. 

•3.  As  Christ  would  have  us  to  be  certainly  per- 
suaded that  there  shall  be  a  day  of  judgment,  both 
s  to  deter  all  men  from  sin,  and  for  the  greater11 
consolation  of  the  godly,  in  their  adversity,  so  will 
he  have  that  day  unknown  to  men,  that  thry  may 
shake  off  all  carnal  security,  and  be  always  watch- 
ful, because  they  know  not  at  what  hour  the  *  Lord 
will  come,  and  may  ever  be  prepared  to  say  k  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.     Amen. 

c  2  Corinthians  v.  10  Ecclesiastes  xii.  14.  Matthew  xii. 
36.  Romans  xiv.  10,  12.  Matthew  xxv.  32,  &c.  d  Romans 
ix.  22, ,23.  e  Matthew  xxv.  21,  23,  34.  2  Timothy  iv.  8. 
/  Matthew  xxv.  46.  Mark  ix.  48.  2  Thessalonians  i.  7— 
10.  g  2  Corinthians  v.  10,  11.  h  2  Thessalonians  i.  5,  6, 
7.  i  Mark  xiii.  35 — 37.  Luke  xii.  35,  36.  k  Revelations 
x*di.  20. 

THE  END. 


A 

TREATISE 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE 

ADOPTED  BY  THE 

SANSOM-STREET 

BAPTIST  CHURCH, 

PHILADELPHIA, 


S.oa  of  Man,  show  the  house  to  the  house  of  Israel. 

EZEE:Ut 

i  • 

These  things  have  I  written^  that  thpu  mayest  know,  how 
t!>pa  oughtest  to  behave  thyself  in  the  house  of  Go.d, 


PHILADELPHIA : 

TjrfFSTE©  FOn  THE  SANSOM-STREET  BAPTIST  CHURCH, 
BY  ANDERSOJf  AJTD  MEEHA2T 


m.s. 


At  an  adjourned  Church  meeting,  November 
10,  1817,  it  was  Resolved,  that  the  Discipline  pub- 
lished by  Dr.  Samuel  Jones,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  be  read  for 
approbation  or  amendment  by  the  Church;  Mr. 
Theophilus  Harris,  who  holds  the  copyright,  hav- 
ing given  his  consent  to  their  printing  the  same. 
The  Discipline  having  been  read,  it  was 
Resolved,  That  it  be  printed,  omitting  the  chap- 
ter relating  to  Ruling  Elders. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


THE  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  met  at  Philadel- 
phia, October  5th,  1795,  judging  our  former  Treatise  of 
Church  Discipline  to  be  materially  defective,  appointed  the 
writer  to  revise  the  same,  or  write  a  new  one  against  the 
next  association. 

At  their  next  meeting  in  1796,  he  laid  before  them  the 
reasons  why  it  was  not  done,  which  were  approved  of,  and 
he  was  requested  to  prepare  it  against  their  next  session. 

Being  met  at  Lower  Dublin,  October  3d,  1797,  it  was 
read  to  them,  and  they  appointed  a  committee  of  one  per- 
son from  each  church  to  revise  it. 

The  said  committee  met  at  Philadelphia,  on  Wednesday 
the  13th  of  December  following,  and  after  making  some 
alterations,  chiefly  verbal,  it  was  agreed  it  should  be  printed 
for  the  use  of  the  churches. 

It  will  be  understood,  the  writer  availed  himself  of  all 
the  help  he  could  derive  from  such  writers  on  the  subject 
as  he  had  by  him,  or  could  find  ;  and  he  hopes  it  will  ap- 
pear he  has  bestowed  some  pains  to  render  the  work  ser- 
viceable, both  as  to  comprehensiveness  of  matter  and  plain- 
ness of  manner,  so  far  as  the  requisite  brevity  would  admit. 

He  thinks  it  unnecessary  to  add  any  thing  farther,  save 
that  he  would  beg  leave  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the 
brethren  the  few  following  particular?. 

First;  That  they  should  be  careful  in  the  admission  of 
members.  Let  there  be  pretty  clear  evidence  of  a  work  of 
grace.  Slackness,  or  inattention  here,  has  been  the  bane 
of  the  church  in  all  ages. 

Secondly;  Let  there  be  most  unremitting  attention  to 
maintain  strict  discipline.    The  glory  of  the  church,  the 


4>  ADVERTISEMENT. 

credit  of  religion,  and  the  prosperity  of  Zion,  depend,  in. 
a  high  degree,  on  the  circumspect  walk  of  its  professors, 
and  the  vigilant  2eal  of  all,  especially  of  the  officers,  for 
the  support  of  order  and  Gospel  discipline. 

Thirdly ;  That  the  professors  of  religion  should  walk 
together  in  love  and  Christian  union,  is  of  material  con- 
sideration. Behold  how  good,  says  the  psalmist,  and  how 
pleasant  it  is,  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity ! 
'*  See  how  these  Christians  love  one  another,'*  was  the  ob- 
servation of  the  Heathen,  respecting  the  Christians  of  the 
first  age  What  a  pity,  that  the  members  of  the  same  fa- 
mily,  and  even  children  of  the  same  heavenly  Father,  and 
who  is  also  the  God  of  peace,  should  disagree  and  wrangle 
like  the  sons  of  darkness  ! 

Fourthly  ;  Be  very  diligent  and  circumspect  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  various  duties  you  owe  to  God,  to  yourselves, 
to  one  another,  and  to  those  of  the  world.  Let  all  have 
occasion  to  observe  that  you  have  been  with  Jesus,  and 
learned  of  him  Walk  worthy,  says  the  apostle,  of  the 
vocation  wherewith  you  are  called. 

I  will  only  add ;  That  you  be  particularly  careful,  to 
maintain  arid  preserve  temper,  coolness,  and  impartiality, 
in  your  meetings  of  business.  To  be  rigid,  obstinate, 
partial,  passionate,  and  overbearing,  in  administering  the 
concerns  of  the  house  of  God  :  how  unlike  the  followers  of 
the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus!  how  unworthy  of  office  under 
their  divine  Master ! 

Now,  that  \he  knowledge  of  God  may  cover  the  earth,, 
and  his  saving  power  prevail  among  all  nations  ;  and  that 
the  churches  of  Christ  may  shine  in  purity  of  doctrine, 
strictness  of  discipline,  and  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,  is 
the  unfeigned  and  fervent  prayer  of,  yqur's  in  all  Gospel 
service, 

SAMUEL  J  ONE? 

IpWEE  Dublin,  December  26,  1797. 


A  TREATISE 

OF 

CHUBCH  DISCIPLINE,  &<• 


CHAPTER  I. 
Of  a  Gos/iel  Church. 

1.  EKICAESIA,  the  word  in  the  original  for  Chord,, 
signified  „  »e  called  on,  ,f :  that  is,  a  Gospel  church  «- 
TL  of  such  persons,  as  have  been  called  oot  of  a  state  ot 
n^einto  state  of  grace,  called  with  an  effectual  caUmg, 
,  t  ofthe  kingdom  of  Satan  into  tne  kmgdom  of 
C ivt  far  Son,  or  are  judged  m  charity  to  be  soca led. 
Kom.i.6.7.«u.30.     1  Cor.  i .2.     Eph..v.  1.     Heb.  in. 

9  I"'  The';  orachurchttnetU.es  mean*  the  whole  body  of 

1  Cor  III  28. ;  and  those  yet  to  be  born. 
3    But  the  church,  of  which  we  now  treat    means  a 

,i  »  R«m    xvi  5     "  That  the  church 

that  is  in  thear  house      horn.  sv,.  5     ^  ^  ^ 

may  recede  ^fymg,    ^"^  rf  Asia  -  j  Cor 

3fr    ^>    he  dturch  that  is  at  Uaby.on,"  1  Pet.  V.  13. 
J    A  particular  church  is  not  parochial,  as  compveheu 


'J 


0  CHURCH  DlScII'I.IM.. 

ingallof  the  same  parish;  nor  diow™,  as  if  one  n-tslor 
mtght  have  several  fcefc...  nol.  vet  p^i^^C 
.ere  man.vchurches  in  Judea,  Gal.  i  P22.  Gal^  ,  c 
"T  '•  Mocedon^  2  Cor.  viii.  1.  much  less  natb '  °r 
5  A  number  of  believers  are  united  together  into  •  n  „• 
■cuhr  c,        h,  by  a„  ac,  rf  confXatTor..tave' 

to  n,,  S"     a  nUmber  is  f""nd  in  »?  Pl!*e.  they  ouffht 

o  propose  among  theHtaeW,  or  others  may  profit  to 

them,  to  be  constituted  a  church. 

8.  For  this  purpose  it  will  be  neceasaryto  appoi  „  ,  tin,~ 

~Aeis^r,::r':,iu,t"r,rcaci'oiithe-- 

9.  After  a  suitable  sermon  has  been  preached,  theactuu- 
munster,  bemg  furnished  with  a  ,,st  of  the  na^o  * 
■;  nd.dates,  ana  they  standi,,,  bcfb„  hi      ig  t„  intcrro^ 

church,    th       fc    wJedge  of>  md 

others  q«ohnca„0ns,  and  their  p>1,,,ose  ;„ld  res()lutio   C, 
k    o,    t,  c,.  m  chureh  reUt;        ,n  lovo  (o 

■el  ,q  ooed.ence  to  the  requirements  of  Christ  h,  the 

_k  leading  parttcnlar.  of  a  church  covenant;  and  after 
*"?  '-e  g.ven  their  assent  to  the  whole,  the  church  co- 
le** tu '■■  •^Hnvh:!t"iT'  "If achur?' nt™'  «W"»i»>- 

t»c  cnuciea,  but  starves  (heirsouls. 


c  nunc II  discipline. 

venant*  is  to  be  read  to  them,  which  they  are  then,  or 
afterwards,  to  sign,  and  the  minister  pronounces  them,  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  a  regular  Gospel  church,  giv- 
ing them,  or  their  representative,  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, and  wishing  them  prosperity  in  the  Lord.  Is.  xliv.6, 
Amos  iii.  3.     Acts  xi.  23      2  Cor.  vi.  14.  ix.  33. 

10.  It  will  be  understood  that  prayers  and  singing  ought. 
to  be  introduced  in  their  proper  places  through  the  whole, 
and  then  a  suitable  address  to  the  constituted  elm: ch,  with 
a  benediction,  will  close  the  solemnity. 

11.  It  is  this  mutual  consent,  confederation.,  and  union 

*  Covenant  of  the  Sansom-streel  Baptist  Church,  Philadelphia. 

We,  whose  names  are  snbscribcd,  being  desirous  to  be 
constituted  a  church  of"  Jesus  Christ  in  this  city,  and  hav- 
ing all  due  knowledge  of  one  another  as  to  works  of  grace 
on  our  hearts,  our  religious  principles,  and  moral  charac- 
ters ;  desirous,  moreover,  of  enjoying  the  privileges  which 
pertaili  to  the  people  of  God,  in  a  church  relation  ;  having 
also  ob&tirced  our  letter  of  dismission  for  the  purpose,  from 
the  First  Baptist  Church  in  this  city:  Do,  in  the  name  of 
tiie  Lord  Jesus,  voluntarily  give  up  ourselves  unto  the 
Lord,  and  to  one  another,  according  tq  his  word,  to  be  one 
body  under  one  head,  jointly  to  exist,  and  act  by  the  rules 
of  the  Gospel ;  av.d  do  promise  and  engage  to  do  all  things  by 
Divine  assistance  ill  our  different  capacities  and  relations, 
that  the  Lord  has  commanded  and  requires  of  us  ;  particu- 
larly to  deny  ourselves,  take  ujj  our  cross,  follow  Christ, 
keep  the  faith,  assemble  ourselves  together,  love  the  breth- 
ren, submit  one  to  another  in  the  Lord,  bear  one  another's 
burdens,  endeavour  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
bond  of"  peace;  and,  finally,  to  honour  and  maintain  them 
that  have  the  rule  over  us  in  the  Lord. 

This  is  the  Covenant  into  which  we  solemnly  enter  in 
the  fear  of  God;  humbly  imploring  the  Divine  assistance 
and  blessing,  that  we  may  be  built  up  to  the  glory  of  God, 
the  advancement  of  die  Redeemer's  interest,  and  the  edifi- 
cation and  comfort  of  our  own  souls. 

And  now  to  the  only  wise  God,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost,  be  honour  and  dominion,  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. 

.:.;ne  at  Philadelphia,  on  'die  15th  day  of  January,  in  the 


8  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

of  persons  into  one  body,  as  a  particular  church,  that  makes' 
that  church  distinct  from  any  r»il.<  n  porch,  and  that  makes 
the  members  of  it  members  oil  that  c'hUich  more  than  of 
any  other,  "  Onesimus,  who  is  one  fyou;  Epaphras,  who 
is  one  of  you."  Col  iv.  9.  12.  "  So  we,  being  many,  are 
one  body  in  Christ."     Rom.  x'i  5. 

12  Such  particular  churches  have  full  power  and  autho- 
rity to  transact  all  then  own  affairs,  independent  of  any 
other  church  or  churches  :  such  as  to  choose  their  own 
officers,  receive  members,  exercise  discipline  among  them- 
selves, exclude  members,  if  need  be,  and  in  general,  do 
every  thing  that  concerns  them  as  a  distinct  religious  cor- 
poration. Matt  xviii.  17.  1  Cor.  v.  ■— .  2  Thes.  iii.  6,  14. 
.Acts  i.  5,  23.     vi.  3.     xv.  4.     xxi.  22. 

13  No  church,  however,  can  be  independent  of  Christ, 
who  is  the  head  of  the  body,  and  who,  while  he  has  com- 
mitted the  executive  power  to  his  church,  has  retained  the 
legislative  in  his  own  hands,  or  rather,  has  enacted,  by 
himself  or  his  apostles,  all  the  laws  that  are  necessary,  and 
the  church  must  t.;ke  heed  how  they  execute  the  same,  as 
they  Will  answer  it  to  their  Lord  and  Master.  "  One  is  your 
Master,  even  Christ.  Hear  ye  him."  Mait  xvii.  5.  xxiii.  8. 
"  There  is  one  law-giver.M     James  iv.  12.         \ 

14.  Under  the  law,  every  member  of  the  congregation 
was  a  member  of  the  church.  The  church  and  coi.grcga- 
tion  were  then  commensurate,  but  under  the  Gospel  they 
are  distinct  from  one  another-  For  though  the  church  be  in 
some  sense  congregational,  yet  the  church  and  congrega- 
tion are  two  distinct  things,  so  that  tlje  one  word  should 
not  be  used  for  the  other,  as  if  they  were  synonymous. 

15.  A  particular  church,  constituted  as  above,  is  said  to 
be  a  church  essential,  but  not  complete,  while  destitute  of 
officers.  These  were  either  extraordinary  or  ordinary ; 
the  first  comprehending  apostles,  prophets,  and  evangelists ; 
i  nd  the  other,  bishops,*  or  ministers,  or  elders  and  deacons 
to  which  some  add,  ruling  elders. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 


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10  CHURCH   DISCIPLINE. 

The  Summary  of  the  English,  exclusive  of  Christ  and  the 
Apostles  will  be;  Ministers  14,  Elders  14,  Teachers  7, 
Ijishops  3,  Stewards  2,  Overseer  1,  Pastor  1,  Preacher  1. 
Inclusive  of  Christ  and  the  Apostles,  Milliliters  25,  Elders 
17,  Teachers  9,  Bishops  4,  Stewards  3,  Overseer  1,  Pastor 
1,  Preacher  3. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Of   Ministers. 

1.  The  names  or  titles  appropriated  to  those  officers  in 
the  New  Testament,  are  either  such  as  seem  to  belong-  to 
them,  in  virtue  oi  their  office,  as  common  names,  while 
they  have  not  taken  the  charge  of  any  particular  church, 
and  then  they  are  called  teachers  or  preachers  Acts 
xiii.  1.  1  Cor.  xii.  28.  Worn  x.  14.;  or  they  are  such  as 
arise  from  their  taking  the  charge  of  some  church,  and 
then  they  obtain  relative  tilts,  and  are  called  pastors. 
Eph.  iv.  11.  Overseers  or  bishops,  Acts  xx  17,  28.  El- 
ders, 1  Tim.  v.  17.  Stewards,  1  Cor.  iv.  1.  Ministers,  Col. 
Lv   7.     1  Tim,  iv   6. 

2.  The  qualifications  for  this  office  are  pretty  clearly 
pointed  out,  both  in  a  positive  and  negative  way,  natural, 
moral,  and  evangelical.  Luke  xxi.  lo.  1  Tim.  iii.  2 — 6. 
Tit  i.  5—9.  2  Tim  ii,  24.  iii.  15,  17.  Acts  xviii.  24. 
Horn.  ix.  3.     xi.  14. 

3  To  this  office  persons  rau«t  be  c  died  :  Firart,  of  Cod, 
styled  the  irtward  call,  which  i-a  z    .1  for  the  glory  of  God 

in  the  salvu'tion  of  the  souls  of  v. and  a  strong  desire  to 

be  made  useful  in  that  Way,  with,  persuasion  of  God's 
designation  of  the  person  for  ihe  6ffc<  e.  Phis  is  the  voice 
of  God  in  his  conscience.  Is.  xiix  5.  Jer.  i.  5  xxiii.  21. 
Heb.  v.  4.  1  Cor.  ix.  16,  17.  koin.  x.  15.  Secondly, 
They  must  be  called  of  the  church,  whose  duty  it  is  to 


CHURCH   DISCIPLINE.  11 

look  out  for  useful  gifts;  and  when  they  have  reason  to 
liope  that  they  discover  some  appearance  thereof  in  any, 
they  should  move  such  to  the  trial  of  their  shifts  ;  or  the 
person  whose  mind  is  impressed,  may  offer  himself,  1 
Tim.  iii.  1. 

4.  If,  after  any  one  has  heen  on  trial  some  time,  the  ap- 
pearances are  promising-,  the  church  ought  to  give  him  a 
letter  of  license, '  for  the  exercise  of  his  gifts  abroad,  his 
encouragement  and  further  improvement,  and  to  obtain 
the  opinion  of  others  concerning  his  gifts.  "  Lay  hands 
suddenly  on  no  man."     1  Tim.  v.  22. 

5.  After  he  has  been  on  trial  a  longer  or  shorter  time, 
according  to  circumstances,  the  church  should  proceed  to 
invest  him  more  fully  with,  and  confirm  him  in,  the  minis- 
terial office,  by  ordination. 

6.  The  essence  of  ordination  consists  in  the  Gall  of  the 
church,  in  their  voting  in  his  favour,  and  designating  him 
by  said  vote  to  the  ministerial  work,  which  power  it  was 
necessary  should  be  lodged  somewhere,  with  a  view  to 
maintain  order  ;  that  no  person  who  deems  himself  called 
and  qualified  for  the  office,  might  enter  upon  it  without 
the  approbation  of  others,  and  this  power  was  lodged  in 

*  To  all  people,  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  : 
The  Baptist  church  at  ,  sendeth  greeting.     The 

bearer  hereof,  our  beloved  brother  ,  being  a  man 

of  good  moral  character,  real  piety,  and  sound  knowledge 
of  divine  things  ;  and  having  been  called  to  the  exercise  oc 
bis  ministerial  gifts,  whereof  we  have  now  had  considerable 
trial,  both  in  private  and  public  ;  we  have  judged  him  wor- 
thy ;  and  do  therefore  hereby  license  and  authorize  him  to 
preach  the  Gospel  wherever  he  may  have  a  call ;  not  doubt- 
mg,  but  that  in  due  time,  circumstances  will  lead  on  to  a 
more  full  investiture  of  him  in  the  ministerial  office,  by  or- 
dination. In  the  mean  time,  we  recommend  him  to  favour 
and  respect,  praying  the  Lord  may  be  with,  and  abundantly 
bless  him. 

Done  at  our  meeting 


I  2 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 


the  church.  Bui  nevertheless,  it  is  expedient  and  necessary, 
in  order  to  give  the  designation  weight  and  solemnity,  thai 
there  should  be  a  public  and  formal  procedure,  when  we 
instate  a  person  in  the  ministerial  office,  Luke  x.  i.  Acts 
xiv.  23.     Mark  iii.  14. 

7.  For  this  purpose,  having  called  one  or  more  ministers 
to  their  assistance,  and  all  met  fasting,  a  sermon  should  be 
preached  suited  to  the  occasion.  Then,  after  seeing  the 
person's  license,  and  the  vote  for  his  ordination,  one  of 
the  ministers  should  interrogate  him  respecting  his  call  of 
God,  his  motives,  his  doctrinal  knowledge,  his  soundness 
in  the  faith,  and  his  resolution  to  persevere  with  diligence. 
Having  given  satisfaction,  he  is  desired  to  kneel,  and  the 
ministers  present  lay  their  hands  on  his  head,  accompanied 
with  suitable  words,  and  one  prays.  Then  he  rises  up, 
and  they  address  him  in  terms  of  congratulation,  bid  him 
a  welcome  to  take  part  with  them  of  the  holy  ministry, 
and  give  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  After  this  a 
charge  is  delivered,  and  prayer,  with  singing,  having  been 
introduced  in  their  proper  places  through  the  whole,  a 
benediction  closes  the  solemnity.  "  With  the  laying  on  of 
the  hands  of  the  presbytery,  or  eldership,"  1  Tim.  iv.  14. 
"  And  when  they  had  ordained  them  elders  in  every  church, 
and  had  prayed  with  fasting,"  Acts  xiv.  23.  "  Lay  hands 
suddenly  on  no  man,"  1  Tim.  v.  22. 

8.  The  ministers  ought  to  give  him  a  certificate  of  his 
ordination.* 

*  To  all  people,  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  the 
subscribers  send  greeting. — Being  convened  at  on 

the         d:iy  of  1818,  at  the  instance  of  the  Bap- 

tist church  of  aforesaid,  for  the  purpose  of 

setting  apart,  by  solemn  ordination,  the  bearer  hereof,  to 
the  sacred  office  of  the  ministry  ;  and  being,  by  sufficient 
testimonials,  fully  certified  of  his  moral  character,  real 
piety,  and  sound  knowledge  in  divine  things,  as  well  as 
ministerial  gifts  and  abilities,  whereof  we  had  otherwise 
due  knowledge  :     We  did  therefore,  on  the  said         d;iy 


CHURCH   DISCIPLINE.  13 

9.  We  should  now  proceed  to  treat  of  the  duties  of  tlte 
ministerial  office.  Rut  although  a  person,  In  virtue  of  his 
ordination,  is  fully  instated  in  his  office,  and  has  a  rig-lit 
to  discharge  every  part  of  it,  when  called  thereto,  yet 
while  he  remains  only  a  teacher  or  preacher,  and  is  not 
connected  with  any  church  as  their  pastor  or  minister,  he 
can  have  but  little  to  do  besides  preaching.  It  will  there- 
fore be  proper  to  defer  the  consideration  of  the  duties  of 
the  pastoral  office,  until  we  have  treated  of  his  acquiring 
that  title,  by  means  of  taking  the  oversight  of  some  church, 
which  will  much  enlarge  his  sphere  of  action. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Of  Deacons. 

1.  The  business  of  deacons  originally,  in  the  church  of 
Jerusalem,  was  very  extensive,  for  the  church  consisted  of 
thousands,  and  had  all  things  in  common,  Acts  ii.  41—44. 
iv.  32.  v.  14.  But,  through  a  change  of  circumstances  in 
the  church,  their  work  is  now  brought  to  a  less  compass. 

2.  They  are  to  take  charge  of  the  outward  concerns  of 
the  church,  particularly  to  serve  tables,  Acts  vi.  2,  3. 
The  Lord's  table,  1  Cor.  x.  21.  that  of  the  poor,  and  the 
minister's  table-  They  are  therefore  to  see,  that  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  contribute  to  all  necessary  uses,  accord- 
ing to  their  abilities,  1  Cor.  xvi.  2      2  Cor.  ix.  7 '. 

3.  Their  qualifications  a$e  set  down  in  Acts  vi.  3.  1  Tim. 
iii.  8—13. 

of  ,  in  the  presence  of  sod  church,  and  a  full  as- 

sembly met,  solemnly  ordain  and  set  apart,  to  the  said 
sacred  office  of  the  ministry,  by  imposition  of  hands,  prayer 
and  other  rituals  among  us  in  that  case  in  use,  the  said 
bearer,  our  worthy  and  reverend  brother  ,  whom 

we  therefore  recommend,  as  such,  to  favour  and  respect. 
B 


14  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

4.  The  manner  of  executing'  their  office  is  with  impaiv 
tiality  or  simplicity,  cheerfulness,  compassion,  tenderness, 
and  faithfulness,  Rom.  xii.  8. 

5.  They  are  to  be  set  in  the  office  by  ordination,  much 
after  the  same  manner  as  ministers,  Acts  vi.  3 — 6. 

6.  By  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  office,  they  purchase 
to  themselves  a  good  degree,  and  great  boldness  in  the  faith, 
1  Tim.  iii.  13. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Of  Settling  a  Minister. 

1.  A  person  having  been  regularly  ordained  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel,  as  we  have  seen  in  Chap.  II.  he  is  qualified 
to  become  a  pastor  or  minister  of  any  destitute  church. 

2.  This  is  done  in  consequence  of  a  call  and  invitation 
of  some  church,  and  his  accepting  of  the  call  on  tbe  terms 
proposed,  or  such  as  they  may  agree  upon.  Calling  of  him 
to  preach,  ordaining  of  him,  and  his  being  even  a  member 
of  said  church,  is  not  sufficient.  There  ought  to  be  a 
mutual  agreement  between  him  and  the  church,  whereby 
he  becomes  theirs,  and  they  his.    Col.  i.  7. 

3.  How  unanimous  a  church  ought  to  be  in  the  choice 
and  settlement  of  a  minister,  it  may  be  hard  to  say.  On 
the  one  hand,  a  bare,  or  even  a  large  majority,  will  not  be 
sufficient,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  an  unanimous  vote 
may  not  always  be  obtained,  and,  perhaps,  in  some  cases, 
may  not  be  absolutely  necessary.  The  more  unanimous, 
however,  the  better. 

4.  The  congregation  also  is  not  to  be  neglected  in  this 
business.  For  as  their  good  is  to  be  kept  in  view,  and  as 
part  of  the  support  is  expected  to  come  from  them,  it  ought 
to  be  known,  that  the  person  proposed  to  be  settled  gives 
pretty  general  satisfaction.     1  Tinv  iii.  7.     3  John  X%- 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  15 

5.  In  settling  a  minister,  having"  appointed  a  time  and 
place,  and  invited  a  council  from  one  or  two  of  the  neigh- 
bouring churches  to  assist,  and  to  witness  the  transaction, 
one  of  the  ministers,  after  praying  and  singing,  should 
preach  a  suitable  sermon.  Then  he,  or  another  of  the 
council,  is  to  put  such  questions  to  the  minister  to  be  set- 
tled, and  to  the  representative  of  the  church  appointed  for 
that  purpose,  as  will  draw  from  each  of  them  promises  to 
fulfil  their  respective  parts  of  the  covenant  and  agreement 
between  them,  upon  which  he  pronounces  him,  in  the  pre- 
sence of  God,  and  of  the  whole  assembly,  to  be  the  pastor 
and  overseer  of  that  church,  and  said  church  to  be  his 
flock  and  charge.  Then  the  settled  minister  and  represen- 
tative of  the  church  give  each  other  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship,  with  expressions  of  mutual  joy  and  congratu- 
lation. 

6.  After  this  a  charge  should  be  delivered  to  the  settled 
minister,  Col.  iv.  19.  and  his  church ;  and  then ,  prayer, 
singing,  and  a  benediction,  will  close  the  service. 

7.  The  transactions  of  the  day,  and  particularly  the 
terms  of  agreement  between  the  settled  minister  and  the 
church,  should  be  entered  at  large  on  the  records  of  the 
church. 

8.  Some  may  say,  that  so  much  formality  in  the  business, 
with  witnesses,  is  unnecessary,  and  that  a  private  agreement 
between  the  parties  is  sufficient.  But  as  a  public  form  of 
marriage  is  indispensable  ;  so  the  above  is  expedient  and 
useful,  as  might  be  shown  were  it  necessary. 

9.  The  duties  incumbent  on  the  pastor  of  a  church,  are 
many  and  great,  and  blessed  is  he  who  is  found  faithful 
therein. 

19.  He  is  to  exercise  love,  care,  tenderness,  watchful- 
ness, and  diligence,  in  all  the  duties  of  going  before, 
feeding  and  defending  the  flock,  the  sheep  and  the  lambs, 
the  strong,  the  weak,  and  diseased,  John  xxi.  15,  17.  Acts 
xx^  29.  1  Pet.  v.  2.  2  Jer.  iii.  15.     He  is  to  preach  in  season 


16  CHURCH   DISCIPLINE. 

and  out  of  season — attend  funerals — administer  the  ordi- 
nances of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper* — take  the  lead 
in  church  government — visit  the  flock — particularly  the 
sick- -pray  for  and  with  them — catechise  the  young,  and 
defend  the  faith  ;  besides  the  duties  of  the  closet,  of  the 
study,  and  his  frequent  calls  abroad,  to  visit  and  supply  the 
destitute,  settle  differences,  attend  at  ordinations,  associa- 
tions, &c.  &c. 

"  And  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  <**  2  Cor.  ii.  16, 


CHAPTER  V. 

Of  Dissolving  the  Connexion  between  a  Pastor 
and  his  Church. 

1.  The  connexion  between  a  pastor  and  his  church  is 
very  binding,  not  unlike  that  between  man  and  wife,  and, 
like  that,  it  should  not  be  dissolved  for  every  cause. 

2.  A  manifest  and  mater.al  breach,  however,  of  the  con- 
tract between  them,  will  justify  a  separation. 

3.  To  which  we  my  add  one  cause  more  ;  i.  e.  when 
variance,  disagreement,  animosity,  and  ill-will,  take  place 
between  them,  op  between  him  and  many  of  them,  to  such 
a  degree  as  to  preclude  a  rational  prospect  of  his  future 
usefulness  among  them.-j- 

*  It  has  been  thought  by  some,  that  a  minister  cannot 
warrantably  administer  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper 
in  or  to  a  church,  wi,ere  he  is  not  a  member  and  settled. 
But  why  he  may  not  do  it  occasionally,  as  persons  are  ad- 
mitted to  occasional  communion,  where  they  are  not  mem- 
bers, it  is  hard  to  say,  when  he  lias  the  call  of  the  church 
to  do  it.  It  should  seem  that  the  call  of  the  church  to  an 
occasional  act,  must  be  equivalent  to  its  call  to  stated  acts. 

j  See  Joshua  Thomas's  History  oi  the  Baptists  in  Wales, 
p.  169. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  17 

4.  In  this  case  it  will  not  be  very  material,  as  to  Che 
separation,  who  may  be  to  blame.  Nor  will  a  majority, 
even  a  pretty  large  one,  in  the  minister's  favour,  make  it 
prudent  for  him  to  continue,  any  more  than  it  would  jus- 
tify his  first  settlement  among  them,  Acts  xxii.  18. 

5.  As  a  pastor  in  such  circumstances  ought  not  to  stay 
among  them  in  support  of  a  party,  so  neither  ought  he  to 
run  away  from  them,  nor  yet  should  they  use  harsh  mea- 
sures with  him  :  but  matters  of  difference  ought  to  be  first 
accommodated  in  the  best  manner  they  can,  that  they  may 
part  in  love  so  far  as  may  be. 

6.  For  this  purpose,  it  will  be  necessary  to  call  a  council 
from  a  neighbouring  church  or  churches,  the  very  same,  if 
they  can  be  had,  as  were  witnesses  of  the  settlement. 

7.  At  this  meeting,  peace  and  an  accommodation  of  all 
matters  of  variance  should  be  laboured  after,  that  tlys 
pastor  maybe  dismissed  and  recommended  in  as  respectful 
a  manner  as  circumstances  will  admit,  in  order  that  his 
character  may  not  suffer  abroad  more  than  need  be,  nor 
his  usefulness  elsewhere  be  prevented. 

8.  Should  the  church  prove  refractory,  and  in  their  ill- 
humour,  refuse  to  give  the  pastor  such  a  character  and 
dismission  as  he  deserves,  the  council  may  and  ought  to 
give  him,  from  under  their  hands,  a  brief  statement  of 
matters  in  variance,  together  with  their  opinion,  and  such 
a  recommendation  as  they  can  answer  for  to  God  and  their 
own  consciences. 

9.  If  convenient,  public  worship  may  close  the  meeting. 


IS  crfUTtCH   DISCI PLI 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Of  the  Duties  of  Members  to  their  Pastor. 

1.  The  members  of  a  church  owe  all  their  duties  in  a 
way  of  obedience  to  the  will  of  God  revealed  in  his  word. 

2.  These  are  to  be  performed  in  love  to  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  Joknxiv.  15,  who  is  the  great  prophet,  priest,  and 
king  of  his  church,  unto  whom  all  power  in  heaven  and 
earth  is  given,  Matt,  xxviii.  18  our  law-giver,  Is.  xxxiii, 
22.  the  head  of  his  church,  Eph.  i  22  and  who  is  to  be 
honoured,  John  v.  23.  and  obeyed  in  ail  things  as  God  over 
all,  bkssed  for  ever,  Rom.  x.  5. 

3.  All  church  members,  therefore,  are  under  the  strict- 
est obligations  to  do  and  observe  whatsoever  Christ  has 
enjoined  on  them,  in  particular  the  duties  they  owe  to 
their  ministers. 

4  They  ought  to  pray  for  them,  that  God  would  assist 
them  in,  and  bless  their  labours,  Eph.  vi   19.     Col.  iv.  3. 

1  Thes.  v.  25.     2  Thes.  hi  1.     Ileb,  xiii.  18.  and  that  he 
would  support  them  under  all  their  trials  and  afflictions, 

2  Thes.  iii.  2. 

5.  They  ought,  to  obey  them  in  the  exercise  of  every 
part  of  their  official  authority,  according  to  the  word, 
Heb.xiiL  17. 

6.  They  ought  to  treat  them  with  respect  and  esteem, 
1  Tim.  v.  17.     1  Thes.  v.  12,  13.     Phil.  ii.  29.     Gal.  iv.  15. 

3  John  ix.  10 

7.  They  ought  to  stand  by  them  in  their  trials,  afflic- 
tions, and  sufferings,  2  Tim.  i.  15.  iv.  16.  1  Cor.  xvi.  10. 
1  Tim.  v.  19. 

8.  They  ought  to  contribute  towards  their  maintenance, 
that  they  may  apply  themselves  to  the  extensive  duties  of 
their  office,  Acts  vi.  2,  4.  See  Confession  of  Faith,  chap, 
xxvii.  £  10. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  19 

9.  Pastors  of  churches  have  a  divine  right  to  their  sup- 
port, if  the  church  is  able  to  give  it  without  being  oppress- 
ed, or  so  far  as  they  are  able,  than  which  nothing  is  more 
manifest  in  the  New  Testament.  "  For  the  workman  is 
worthy  of  his  meat,"  Matt,  x  10.  Luke  x.  7.  "  If  we 
have  sown  unto  you  spiritual  tilings,  is  it  a  great  thing  if 
We  shall  reap  your  carnal  things?"  1  Cor.  ix.  11.  "  Do  ye 
not  know,  that  they  who  minister  about  holy  things,  live  of 
the  things  of  the  temple  ?  and  they  who  wait  at  the  altar, 
are  partakers  with  the  altar  ?  Even  so  has  the  Lord  or- 
dained, that,  they  who  preach  the  Gospel  should  live  of  tlie 
Gospel,"  1  Cor.  ix  13,  14.  '*  Let  him  that  is  taught  in  the 
word,  communicate  unto  him  that  teaches  in  all  good 
things,"  Gal.  vi,  6.     See  1  Tim.  v.  17,  18. 

10.  These  passages  of  holy  writ  are  so  uncc/uivocal  and 
express,  that  no  one  can  evade  their  force. 

11.  Mr.  Hooker  well  observes,  that  "  they,  who  will  not 
pay  their  ministers,  would  not  ♦  iy  any  one  his  due,  could 
they  refuse  with  the  same,  temporal  impunity."  Every 
one  knows,  that  those;,  who  will  not  do  justice,  farther 
than  the  law  compels  them,  are  destitute  of  an  honest 
principle. 

12.  Nothing  but  ignorance  of  his  duty,  or  covetoiisness 
and  want  of  principle,  or  both,  can  induce  to  neglect  or 
refuse  paying;  ana  a  covetous  brother  should  be  expelled 
the  church,  and  kept  no  company  with,  1  Cor.  v.  U. 

13.  When  a  people  neglect  their  duty  in  regard  to  the 
support  of  their  minister,  they  are  not  only  wilful  neglecters 
of  the  divine  law,  but  must  otherwise  be  great  losers,  both 
as  they  forfeit  a  right  to  the  divine  blessing,  as  also  because 
their  minister  will  be  less  capable  of,  and  prevented  from, 
serving  them  to  the  same  advantage,  Gal.  vi.  6,  7.  2  Cor. 
ix.  6—3. 

14-  This  support  of  the  minister  should  not  be  done  in 
the  way  of  charity,  or  aims,  but  as  a  matter  of  right;  and, 
i*  the  people  are  able,  it  ought  to  exceed  his  bare  necess^ 


CHURCH    DISCIPLINE. 

ty,  that  he  may  be  able  to  be  exemplary  in  acts  of  hospi- 
tality, 1  Tim.  ill-  2. 

15.  If  any  church  and  congregation  are  not  able  to  give 
their  minister  a  comfortable  support,  but  are  willing  to  do 
what  they  can  towards  it,  it  will  perhaps  be  duty,  at  least 
very  commendable,  in  the  minister,  to  forego  a  part  of  his 
right,  rather  than  leave  them,  and  apply  himself  to  some 
business  to  make  up  their  deficiency,  1  Cor.  ix.  12. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Duties  of  Members  towards  each  other. 

The  principal  of  these  are  the  following  : 

1.  Love  one  another,  John  xiii.  34,  35.  xv.  12,  17.  Rom, 
xii.  9,  10.     xiii.  8—10.     Gal.  v.  15.     1  Pet.  i.  22. 

2.  Avoid  every  thing  that  tends  to  cool  love,  and  make 
disagreeable  impressions,  Gal.  v.  26.  In  order  to  this, 
they  should  avoid  whispering  and  backbiting,  2  Cor.  xii. 
20.  Evil  speaking  and  surmising,  James  iv.  11.  1  Tim.  vi« 
4.  tattling-  and  being  busy-bodies,  1  Tim.  v.  13. 

3.  No  one  should  indulge  shyness  in  him  self  towards  an- 
other, but  immediate!)  make  known  to  the  other  his  griev- 
ance and  suspicion  :  and  when  he  discovers  shyness  in 
another,  he  should  inquire  after  the  reason  of  it,  Matt.  v. 
23,  24.     Eph.  iv.  26. 

4.  Bear  with  one  another,  Matt,  xviii.  21,  22.  Rom.  xv. 
1.     Gal.  vi.  2. 

5.  Promote  peace  and  harmony,  Eph.  iv.  3.     Rom.  fch 
19.     1  Thes.  v.  13. 

6.  Advance  one  another's  spiritual  benefit  and  edification , 
1  Cor.  xiv.  26. 

7  Watch  over  one  another  for  good,  and  admonish  one 
another,  when  occasion  requires,  but  in  much  love  and 
venderness,  Rom,  xv.  11.     2  Thes.  iii>  15* 


CHURCH  DISC4PLLNE.  21 

8.  Exhort  and  stir  up  one  another  to  a  diligent  attend- 
ance on  the  means  of  grace,  Heb.  x.  25.     Acts  ii.  42. 

9.  Stir  up  one  another  to  zeal  in  holy  living,  and  in  sup- 
porting the  Cospel. 

10.  Should  not  divulge  what  is  done  in  church  meetings, 
Cant.  iv.  11.  It  is  a  shame  to  divulge  the  secrets  of  a 
family,  much  more  those  of  a  church. 

11.  Relieve  the  necessities  of  the  poor,  Matt.  xxv.  40. 
John  xii.  8.  Rom.  xii.  13.  xv.  26.  Gal.  ii  10.  Deut.  xv, 
7,  11.  1  Cor,  xvi.  1,  2.  1  John  iii.  17-  There  is  no  good 
reason,  however,  can  be  given,  why  a  church  should  refuse 
the  assistance,  which  the  ^ood  and  wholesome  laws  of  the 
land  offer  :  But  the  deacons  ought  to  agree  with  the  over- 
seer of  the  poor  at  so  much  a  year,  and  then  find  a  place 
near  the  meering  house,  where  they  will  be  taken  good 
*>are  of  and  live  comfortably,  and  if  the  deacon  must  give 
more  than  he  receives  from  the  overseer,  let  the  church 
make  up  the  difference. 

12.  The  church  should  also  assist  such  as  are  not  so  help- 
less  or  needy  as  to  be  put  on  the  town,  yet  may  stand  in 
need  of  assistance  at  times,  especially  when  some  accidents 
have  befallen  them. 

13.  In  the  last  place  they  should  not  go  to  law  with  one 
another,  if  matters  can  be  accommodated  in  the  church,  or 
by  reference,  1  Cor  vi.  1 — 7.  It  is  true,  the  circumstances 
of  the  church  being  so  materially  altered  now,  from  wha* 
they  were  in  the  apostolic  day,  may  be  thought  to  render 
the  reason  of  the  injunction  in  the  above  text  less  forcible  ; 
yet  the  mode  of  reference  is  at  any  time  more  eligible,  not 
only  from  prudential  considerations,  but  as  being  more 
friendly  and  kind,  and,  in  some  instances,  more  just.  For, 
although  the  law  always  has  justice  in  view,  yet  justice  is 
not  always  within  its  reach,  of  which  a  Christian  should 
never  take  advantage  against  any  one,  not  to  say  a  brother. 
But  by  leave  of  the  church,  recourse  may  be  had  to  th-e 
civil  law. 


23  (.'IIUUCH   DISCIPLINE. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Of  Admission   of  Members. 

1.  We  have  already  observed,  p.  10.  that  every  particular 
church  lias  full  power  and  authority,  to  transact  all  its  own 
affairs,  for  its  well  being,  independent  of  any  other  church, 
or  combination  of  churches. 

2.  The  chief  part  of  church  power,  exercised  under 
Christ,  and  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Gospel,  is  versant 
about  four  things :  the  choice  of  their  own  officers,  the 
admission  of  members,  governing  of  them,  and  finally  their 
exclusion,  when  they  prove  unworthy  of  a  place  in  the 
house  of  God.     Rom.  xiv.  1.     Acts  ii.  41.     1  Cor.  v.  13. 

3.  Admission  is  either  out  of  the  world,  or  from  other 
churches. 

4.  When  persons  are  wrought  upon  and  turned  to  the 
Lord,  under  a  real  work  of  conviction  and  conversion,  it 
will  be  their  duty  to  offer  themselves  for  baptism,  and  give 
themselves  members  of  some  Gospel  church  that  may  be 
near  them,  with  whom  they  may  walk  in  fellowship,  and 
enjoy  the  privileges  of  the  house  of  God,  appointed  for 
their  nourishment  and  growth  in  grace.  Acts  ii.  38.  Is. 
xliv.  5.     lvi.  6.     2  Cor.  viii.  5. 

5.  To  this  end,  it  will  be  proper  for  the  candidate  to 
acquaint  the  minister  or  pastor  beforehand  of  his  design; 
which  is  commonly  done,  that  the  minister,  after  conversing 
freely  with  him,  may  either  encourage  or  discourage. 

6.  There  is  no  doubt,  but  that  every  Gospel  minister  has 
a  right,  in  virtue  of  the  commission,  to  baptise  all  such 
meet  subjects,  as  apply  to  him  for  baptism,  and  afterward 
the  church  may  receive  them  on  the  testimony  of  said 
minister,  or  on  their  giving  in  their  religious  experience. 

7.  Rut,  since  the  church  has  a  right  to  obtain  full  know- 
ledge of  the  experience,   religious   principles,  and  moral 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  ~o 

conduct  of  those  that  offer  themselves  for  membership  ; 
and  forasmuch  as  it  is  edifying-,  and  tends  to  excite  and 
increase  Christian  fellowship,  to  hear  persons  declare  what 
the  Lord  has  done  for  them,  Psalm  lxvi  16.  ;  and  also,  as 
it  may  be  of  use  to  administer  the  holy  ordinance  of  baptism 
in  a  more  open  and  public  way;  it  will  be  better  for  per- 
sons to  be  examined  in  the  first  instance  before  the  church, 
either  on  the  day  of  preparation  before  communion,  or  at 
any  other  time,  and  then  baptised. 

8.  The  prerequisites  for  baptism  and  admission  into  the 
church  are,  godly  experience,  soundness  in  the  faith,  and 
a  regular  life. 

9.  Knowledge  of  the  first  will  be  best  obtained,  byfetti  ig 
persons  declare,  in  their  own  way,  the  gracious  dealings  of 
the  Lord  with  them,  such  questions  being  put  occasionally 
as  wili  assist  and  lead  them  on.  1  Peter  iii.  15.  The  se- 
cond should  be  confined  to  the  essentials  of  religion.  Rom. 
xiv.  1.  xr.  7.  And  we  attend  to  the  last,  as  the  necessary 
fruit,  without  which,  their  pretension  to  religion  must  be 
vain.     Titus  ii.  12,  14.  iii.  8. 

10.  In  admitting  persons  to  baptism,  and  then  into  the 
church,  all  precaution  should  be  attended  to,  and  careful- 
ness used,  that  we  open  not  the  doors  too  wide  on  the  one 
hand,  nor  on  the  other  keep  them  too  close.  Zech.  iv.  10. 
Matt.  xii.  20.  Isaiah  xxvi.  1 — 6.  Particularly,  when  they 
give  in  their  religious  experience,  seek  to  discover,  whether 
they  have  been  convinced  of  righteousness,  as  well  as  of 
sin  ;  whether  they  have  only  felt  the  power  of  the  law,  or 
have  also  discovered  the  glory  of  the  Gospel.    John  xvi.  8. 

11.  When  the  church  is  pretty  generally  satisfied  with 
the  parties'  confession  und  conversation,  they  are,  after  be- 
ing baptised,  to  be  received  into  tke  church  as  members 

12.  In  doing  this,  the  minister,  after  a  brief  introduction, 
inquires  whether  they  will  watch  and  be  watched  over, 
give  and  receive  admonition  and  reproof  as  occasion  may 
require,  keep  vh^iv  nbcesinthe  church,  contribute  accord- 


CHURCH   DISCIPLINE. 

ing  to  their  abilities  towards  all  necessary  uses,  and  in  all 
things  walk  in  a  professed  and  willing  subjection  to  the 
commands  and  institutions  of  Christ  in  the  Gospel :  the 
which  having  promised,  he  gives  them  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship,  bids  them  a  welcome  among  the  disciples,  prays, 
and  gives  out  a  suitable  hymn.  2  Cor.  viii.  5-  Acts  ii.41. 
2  Cor.  vi.  14.  Those  who  practise  laying  on  of  hands  will 
know  when  to  introduce  it. 

13.  If  the  ease  of  the  applicant  be  pretty  doubtful,  his 
baptism,  and  consequently  admission,  had  better  be  defer- 
red  :  but  this  should  be  done  with  mucli  tenderness  and 
suitable  encouragement,  when  there  are  some  hopeful  ap- 
pearances. 

14  Persons  are  sometimes  admitted  from  oilier  churches 
to  transient  and  occasional  communion,  without  transferring 
their  membership,  and  this  may  be  done  without  letters  of 
recommendation,  when  they  are  known,  but  not  otherwise. 
Acts  xviii.  27.     Rom.  xvi.  1,  2.     Col.  iv.  10 

15.  When  any  member's  residence  is,  in  Providence,  re- 
moved to  a  distance  from  the  church  whereof  he  is  a  mem- 
ber, and  more  convenient  to  attend  with  another  church 
of  the  same  futh,  he  ought  to  apply  to  the  church  of  which 
he  is  a  member,  for  a  letter  recommendatory  and  dismissive 
to  the  chyrch  more  contiguous  to  him,  and  the  church 
whereof  he  is  a  member  ought  to  give  him  such  a  letter,  if 
he  is  in  good  standing  among  them,  directed  to  the  church 
to  which  he  is  dismissed,  and  said  church  ought  to  receive 
him,  unless  they  should  have  good  reason  to  refuse.  Rom. 
xvi.  1.     Acts  ix.  2f>,  27.     xviii.  27. 

16  Tt  is  a  good  general  rule,  that  persons  ought  to  be 
members  of  such  churches  as  are  nearest  to  them;  for  they 
cannot  otherwise  so  well  enjoy  the  benefit  of  membership, 
nor  perform  the  duties  that  arise  out  of  church  relation. 

17-  There  may  be,  however,  cas? s  that  will  make  against 
this  rule,  particularly  when  persons  plead  greater  benefit 
to  themselves  in  a  church  more  remote  ;  and  they  ought 


CHURCH   DISCIPLINE.  2o 

to  be  attended  to,  provided  the  other  church  be  not  too 
remote  ;  for  edification  is  the  first  object  of  church  relation, 
and  their  entering  into  the  relation  at  first  was  a  voluntary 
act ;  nor  should  a  church  be  made  a  prison  of,  wherein  to 
confine  people  against  their  will. 

18.  It  is  certain  there  can  be  no  dismission  to  the  world  ; 
and  it  is  doubted,  whether  it  would  be  regular  for  a  church 
to  dismiss  to  another  church,  with  which  it  can  hold  no 
communion  :  but  in  this  case  it  may  give  a  few  lines,  signi- 
fying the  person's  character  and  standing  with  them. 

19  When  a  person  offers,  who  is  a  member  of  a  church 
differing  in  faith  and  order,  then,  satisfaction  is  to  be  re- 
quired touching  the  points  in  difference. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Of  Church   Censures. 

1.  Client -h  censures  are  properly  but  two ;  admonition  or 
rebuke,  and  excommunication  ;  for  suspension,  in  most 
cases,  is  rather  a  delay  or  postponement  of  censure. 

2.  Admonition  and  rebuke  are  nearly  synonymous.  The 
first  is  of  the  nature  of  advice,  entreaty,  warning,  1  Cor.  x. 
11.  Acts  xxvii.  9.  2  Thes.  iii.  15.  1  Tim.  v.  1.  Tit.  iii. 
10.  The  other  carries  in  it  more  of  reprehension,  severity, 
and  authority,  Levit.  xix.  17.  Lukexix.  39.  2  Tim.  iv.  2. 
Tit.  ii.  15. 

3.  Admonition  or  rebuke  is  either  private  or  public. 

4  Private  admonition  is  when  the  offence,  whether 
against  God,  or  more  especially  against  a  particular  person, 
is  private  and  not  much  known,  Rom.  xv.  14.  Luke 
xvii.  3. 

5.  In  this  case,  the  offended  brother  is  not  to  divulge 
the  matter,  but  to  go  to  the  offender,  and  endeavour  in  a 
tender,  friendly  manner,  to  convince  and  reclaim  his  bro- 
C 


26  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

ther.  If  he  succeeds,  and  the  offending-  brother1  shows 
signs  of  repentance,  and  promises  amendment,  the  matter 
is  to  end  there.  But  if  not,  the  offended  brother  is  to  take 
one  or  two  of  the  brethren  with  him,  such  as  he  shall  j  udge 
most  likely  to  gain  on  his  brother.  If  this  admonition  also 
should  take  no  effect,  the  matter  is  to  be  brought  before 
the  church,  Matt,  xviii.  15 — 17. 

5.  This  rule  holds  good,  let  the  offence  be  of  ever  so 
heinous  a  nature,  provided  it  be  private. 

6.  When  it  is  brought  before  the  church,  after  the 
charge  is  proved,  should  he  deny  it,  the  minister  is  to  ad- 
monish, and  endeavour  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  to  reclaim 
the  offender,  1  Tim.  v.  20.  Tit.  i.  13.  Should  this  prove 
ineffectual,  and  the  offender  continue  obstinate  and  impe- 
nitent, the  church  is  to  proceed  to  higher  acts  of  censure, 
and,  in  some  cases,  if  he  is  penitent,  as  we  shall  see  in  the 
17th  verse,  Matt,  xviii.  17. 

8.  Should  any  private  matter  be  brought  into  the  church, 
before  the  previous  steps  have  beea  taken,  the  person  that 
brings  it  in  ought  to  be  severely  reproved  and  admonished, 
and  that  publicly  before  the  church,  for  his  irregular  and 
injurious  conduct  therein:  yet,  nevertheless,  the  church 
must  now  take  it  in  hand,  forasmuch  as  it  will  then  be  no 
longer  private,  but  will  require  public  satisfaction. 

9.  Public  admonition,  or  rebuke,  also  takes  place  in  regard 
to  public  offences,  of  a  less  heinous  nature,  but  unseemly 
in  Christians,  and  unworthy  of  their  vocation,  Rom.  xiv.  22. 
Matt.  v.  22.     1  Cor.  viii.  12. 

10.  Suspension  is  to  be  used,  when  a  person,  under  the 
first  admonition  or  rebuke  in  the  church,  proves  incorrigi- 
ble. For,  since  there  is  to  be  a  second  admonition,  Titus 
iii.  10.  he  ought,  while  we  are  waiting  to  see  the  effects  of 
the  first,  to  be  put  under  suspension,  and  debarred  the  pri- 
vileges of  the  church,  Rev.  ii.  21. 

11.  When  a  charge  is  brought  into  the  church  against  a 
person,  if  he  denies  it,  and  witnesses  are  not  at  hand,  or. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  27 

some  other  circumstances  make  it  inconvenient  for  the 
present  to  discuss  the  matter,  it  will  be  necessary  to  lay 
him,  in  the  mean  time,  under  suspension  from  the  Lord's 
table,  until  the  matter  can  come  to  a  hearing1,  Lev.  chap- 
ters XIII  XIV. 

12.  Suspension  is  also  used,  when  the  offence  is  not  suf- 
ficiently great,  or  is  not  yet  ripe  for  the  great  sentence  of 
excommunication.  Such  is  not  to  be  accounted  as  an  ene- 
my, but  to  be  exhorted  as  a  brother  ;  in  union,  though  not 
in  communion.    2  Thes.  Hi.  6,  7,  10,  11,  14,  15. 

13.  To  the  above  three  cases,  wherein  suspension  is  to 
take  place,  we  may  add  a  fourth,  and  that  is,  when  a  person 
is  called  in  question  for  some  high  misdemeanor,  for  which 
he  ought  to  be  excommunicated,  it  is  thought,  that  if  there 
are  strong  signs  of  genuine  repentance,  the  infliction  of  the 
sentence  ought  to  be  dispensed  with,  yet  nevertheless,  the 
guilty  person  ought  to  be  suspended  from  communion  for 
a  time,  as  a  testimony  of  the  church's  indignation  against 
every  species  of  wickedness,  and  in  vindication  of  the 
honour  and  glory  of  God.  Thus  the  Lord  appointed  con- 
cerning Miriam,  that  she  should  be  shut  out  of  the  camp 
seven  days,  and  then  received  in  again.     Numb.  xii.  14, 15- 

14.  The  last  and  highest  act  of  church  censure  is  excom- 
munication, to  which  recourse  must  be  had,  when  previous 
censures  have  not  their  due  effect,  in  bringing  persons 
dealt  with  to  repentance,  provided  the  matters  for  which 
they  are  under  dealing,  with  the  circumstances  of  aggra- 
vation during  the  course  of  said  dealing,  manifestly  involve 
immorality  or  heresy.* 

15.  Acts  of  immorality  include  not  only  the  particulars 
of  the  decalogue,  but  also  the  commands,  appointments, 
institutions,  and  ordinances  contained  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment :  for  a  breach  of  any  positive  injunction,  or  require- 

*  It  is  thought  that  Matt,  xviii.  17.  1  Cor.  v.  3,  5.  refer 
not  to  excommunication. 


28  CHURCH   DISCIPLINE. 

ment  of  divine  authority,  must  involve  in  vit  a  breach  of 
morality. 

16.  There  should  be  care  taken,  however,  not  to  make 
forced  constructions  of  implicit  immoral  )iy,  as  for  instance, 
to  charge  a  person  with  transgressing-  the  rule  in  Heb.  x. 
25.  and  breach  of  covenant,  because  he  neglects  his  place, 
attends  worship  elsewhere,  and  perhaps  with  those  of  a 
different  persuasion,  but  pleads  greater  edification,  and, 
perhaps,  conscience,*  lest  we  should  act  the  part  of  Dio- 
trephes.    3  John  10. 

17.  When  a  member  is  found  guilty  of  some  gross  act  of 
immorality,  and  which  is  notorious  and  scandalous,  the 
church  should  proceed  to  this  censure  in  the  first  place, 
without  the  previous  steps  of  admonition  and  reproof,  in 
order  to  vindicate  the  credit  of  their  holy  profession,  and 
to  manifest  their  abhorrence  of  such  abomination,  1  Cor.  v. 
1,  7, 13.     1  Tim.  v.  24. 

18.  Such  as  are  heretical  in  their  principles,  denying 
some  essential  doctrine,  or  holding  and  teaching  such  as 
may  be  unfounded  and  scandalous,  come  under  the  notice 
of  this  ordinance,  Gal  i.  6,  7.  compared  with  chap.  v.  12. 
1  Tim.  i.  10,20.  vi.  3— 5.  2  Tim.  ii.  16-18.  Rev.  ii. 
14,  15,  20.     2  Cor.  ii.  6. 

19.  The  charge  being  sufficiently  proved  in  the  opinion 
of  the  church,  and  they  having  determined  on  the  person's 
exclusion,  and  set  the  time  for  that  purpose,  the  minister  is 
to  lay  open  the  heinousness  of  the  crime,  with  the  aggra- 
vating circum stances  thereof,  and  the  scandal  such  an  one 
is  become  to  religion  ;  he  is  to  apply  the  particular  places 
of  scripture,  that  may  be  pertinent  to  the  case,  in  order  to 
charge  the  offence  home  on  the  conscience  of  the  offender, 
if  present,  and  that  others  also  may  fear;  he  is  to  open 
the  nature  and  end  of  the  censure,  expressing  the  solemn 

*  See  Dr.  Owen  on  the  nature  of  a  Gospel  Church,  p. 
109,  225. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  29 

sense  of  himself  mid  church  on  this  awful  occasion ;  and  then 
he  is,  in  the  presence  of  the  church,  to  cut  off  and  seclude 
such  an  offender  by  name  from  the  union  and  communion 
of  the  church>  so  that  he  is  not,  henceforth,  to  be  looked 
upon,  deemed  or  accounted  a  brother,  or  a  member  of  such 
a  church,  until  God  shall  restore  him  again  by  repentance, 
for  which  they  pray. 

20.  This  exclusion  is  an  authoritative  putting  of  such  a 
person  out  of  the  church,  to  keep  it  pure,  and  in  order  to 
his  being-  humbled  and  broken  under  a  sight  and  sense  of 
his  sins,  and  where  there  are  signs  of  this,  he  ought  to  be 
restored,  2  Cor.  ii.  6,  7,  8. 

21.  When  a  person  about  to  be  excommunicated  judges 
himself  aggrieved  by  party  influence  or  otherwise,  he  has 
a.  right  to  insist  on  a  council  being  called  from  a  neigh- 
bouring church  or  churches,  and  the  church  ought  to  agree 
to  it,  and  allow  him  the  choice  of  one  half  of  the  council. 

22.  If  the  church  should  refuse  to  call  in  a  council,  and 
cut  the  person  off,  or  should  they  do  it  contrary  to  the  ad- 
vice  of  the  council,  the  person  aggrieved  may  lay  a  state- 
ment of  his  case  before  the  Association,  who  may  appoint  a 
council,  and  if  the  church  should  refuse  to  admit  of  a 
rehearing  before  said  council,  or  should  refuse  to  abide  by 
the  decision  of  the  council,  the  Association  may  bring  said 
church  under  dealing,  and,  if  the  church  continues  obsti- 
nate, a  neighbouring  church  may  receive  the  aggrieved 
person  into  their  communion* . 

23.  In  transacting  church  business,  it  is  not  to  be  expect- 
ed that  unanimity  will  always  prevail :  Some  will,  at  times, 
be  in  the  minority.  These  have  sometimes  taken  offence, 
and  declined  keeping  their  places  in  the  church  for  awhile. 
This  is  very  wrong  and  irregular.  For  suppose  a  church 
does  ever  so  wrong,  yet  any  individual,  after  bearing  his 

*  See  the  Confession  of  Faith,  Chap.  XXVII.  §  15.  Also, 
teacti's  Glory  of  a  true  Church,  p.  18. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

testimony  against  it,  lias  done  his  duty,  and  cleared  hia 
conscience,  and  ought  therefore  to  keep  his  place,  except 
in  case  of  material  defection  from  the  faith.  It  has  been 
thought  by  good  men,  that  our  Lord  communed  with  Judas, 
though  lie  knew  at  the  time  what  he  was. 

24.  Although  a  church  may  refuse  a  person  when  he 
offers  for  membership,  if  they  have  good  cause  to  suspect 
that  he  is  not  truly  religious,  yet  they  have  no  right  to 
exclude  him  afterward,  upon  the  like  suspicion.  They 
may  at  first  judge  in  his  favour,  but  cannot  afterwards 
reverse  the  sentence.  Excommunication  is  only  for  immo- 
rality or  heresy.  As  for  their  dying  away,  or  seeming  to 
die  away  in  religion,  the  rule  is,  "  Let  them  grow  together 
until  the  harvest,"  Matt.  xiii.  30. 

25.  There  ought  to  be  meetings  of  business  every  month, 
two  months,  or  quarterly,  and  not  do  all  their  business  on 
days  of  preparation,  lest  something  should  happen  that 
might  discompose  the  minds  of  some,  and  so  unfit  them  for 
the  holy  communion  next  day. 

26.  Every  church  should  keep  a  book  of  records,  and 
enter  therein  all  their  transactions,  that  it  may  at  any  time 
afterwards  be  known  what  was  done,  and  'now  it  was  done. 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  SI 

CHAPTER  X. 

Of  the  Fellowship,  and  Communion  of  Churches 

1.  Churches  of  the  same  faith  and  Gospel  order,  so  fa 
as  is  necessary  to  communion  ;  as  they  have  all  drank  intc 
and  of  one  and  the  same  spirit ;  as  they  are  branches  oi 
one  and  the  same  body,  and  hold  to  one  and  the  same 
head ;  and  as  they  have  one  Lord,  one  faith,  and  one  bap- 
tism :  they  therefore  may,  and  ought  to  have  and  enjoy 
fellowship  and  a  friendly  intercourse  together,  as  occasion 
may  require  and  opportunity  serve,  in  the  discharge  of 
those  relative  duties,  which  may  tend  to  the  mutual  be- 
nefit and  edification  of  the  whole-  1  Cor.  xii.  13.  Eph.  iv. 
5.     John  xvii.  20—26.     To  mention  a  few. 

2.  They  should  be  ready  to  assist  one  another,  when 
required,  in  difficult  cases. 

;>.  Such  as  have  ministerial  gifts  to  spare,  should  be 
ready  and  willing  to  supply  such  as  may  be  destitute. 
Cant.  viii.  8. 

4.  Admit  one  another's  members,  of  regular  standing,  tb 
transient  communion,  when  opportunity  may  serve. 

5.  Dismiss  and  receive  members  to  and  from  one 
another. 

6.  They  should  assist  one  another  with  money,  as  well 
as  advice,  if  need  be,  and  in  general  perform  all  acts  of 
kindness  towards  each  other,  as  neighbouring,  though 
distinct  families,  or  branches  of  the  one  great  family  and 
household  of  faith. 

7.  And  lastly,  they  have  fellowship  and  communion  to- 
gether, for  their  mutual  benefit,  in  the  social  duties  of  an 
association. 


32  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE, 

* 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Of  an  Association. 

1.  As  Association  consists  of  delegates,  or  messengers, 
from  different  particular  churches,  who  have  agreed  to 
associate  together,  at  stated  times,  to  promote  their  own 
interest  and  the  good  of  the  common  cause. 

2.  This  practice  is  recommended  by  the  reason  of  things, 
the  spirit  of  religion,  and  apostolic  practice,  Acts  xv. 

3.  The  meeting  thus  of  churches  by  their  delegates  is 
of  special  use ;  to  gain  acquaiatance  with,  and  knowledge 
of  one  another — to  preserve  uniformity  in  faith  and  practice, 
Phil.  iii.  16. — to  detect  and  discountenance  heresies — to 
curb  licentiousness  in  the  wanton  abuse  of  church  power — 
to  afford  assistance  and  advice  in  all  difficult  cases — to 
contribute  pecuniary  aid  when*  necessary — to  make  appoint- 
ments  of  supplies  for  destitute  churches — and  every  way 
advance  and  secure  the  interest  of  religion,  and  strengthen 
and  draw  closer  the  bonds  of  union  and  fellowship, 

4.  Other  churches,  besides  those  that  enter  at  the  original 
constitution,  may  be  admitted,  on  making  application,  and 
giving  satisfactory  evidence  in  regard  to  their  faith  and 
practice,  regular  order  and  good  standing. 

5.  The  delegates  thus  assembled  are,  properly  speaking, 
only  an  advisory  council.  They  are  not  armed  with  coer- 
cive power,  to  compel  the  churches  to  submit  to  their 
decisions  ;  nor  have  they  any  control  over  the  acts  or 
doings  of  the-  churches.  Every  church  still  remains  in- 
dependent. 

6.  Nevertheless,  the  associated  body  may  exclude  from 
their  connexion  any  church  that  may  act  an  unworthy  part. 
This  our  association  did  some  years  ago,  as  also,  virtually, 
last  association.  Indeed,  it  would  be  absurd  to  examine 
churches  at  their  admission,  if  afterward  they  are  to  be 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.  33 

continued  in  the  connexion,  let  their  principles  and  practice 
be  what  they  may,  see  Chap.  X.  ver.  22  vide  also  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  Chap.  XXVII.  §  15.  Our  late  Discipline,  p. 
61.   Dr.  Oweu  on  the  Nature  of  a  Gospel  Church,  p.  254. 

7.  Let  it  not.  be  thought,  that  this  power  of  the  associa- 
tion over  the  churches  in  connexion  with  it,  disannul: 
destroys  the  independence  of  those  churches ;  for  if  any 
church  of  the  associated  body  should  become  unsound  in 
their  principles,  or  act  irregularly  and  disorderly,  and  will 
not  do  what  may  be  just  and  right ;  such  a  church  will 
still  remain  an  independent  church,  though  an  heterodox 
and  irregular  one  ;  but  it  would  be  inconsistent  and  wrong 
in  the  association,  to  suffer  such  a  church  to  continue 
among  them,  since,  besides  other  confederations,  they 
would  hereby  become  partakers  of  their  evil  deeds.  The 
association  can  take  nothing  from  them  but  what  it  gave 
them.  This,  in  such  circumstances,  it  certainly  may  and 
ought  to  do. 

8.  From  what  we  have  said,  as  well  as  from  considering, 
that  the  union  of  churches  in  an  association,  is  a  voluntary 
act,  a  voluntary  union  or  confederation,  like  the  voluntary 
confederation  of  members  into  a  church,  it  follows  that 
every  church  stands  in  the  same  relation  to  its  association, 
as  a  member  does  to  his  church,  and  therefore  is  examined 
in  the  same  manner  on  admission.    Hence, 

9.  Complaints  maybe  received  by  the  association  against 
any  church  belonging  to  it,  especially  when  the  complaint 
is  brought  in  by  another  church      Hence  also, 

10.  The  association  has  a  right  to  call  any  delinquent 
church  to  account,  whether  for  a  wanton  abuse  of  its  power 
towards  or  over  any  of  its  members,  neglect  of  attendance 
at  the  association,  disregard  of  those  things  recommended 
to  them,  or  any  material  defect  in  principle,  or  practice  ; 
and  if  satisfactory  reasons  are  not  given  therefor,  nor  re- 
formation, then  feo  exclude  them. 


34  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

11.  At  the  first  formation  of  an  association,  or  afterwards, 
there  should  be  a  set  of  rules,  conditions  and  regulations 
drawn  up,  as  the  ground  on  which  the  churches  agree  to 
associate  together. 

12.  For  the  maintenance  of  good  order,  the  associated 
body  when  met,  should  choose  a  Moderator,  to  regulate, 
and  bring  forward  what  is  to  come  before  them,  and  to 
preside  in  their  deliberations ;  as  also  a  Clerk,  to  take 
minutes  of  their  proceedings. 


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